Schleswig-Holstein names 23 delegates, including Angela Merkel, for the presidential vote

Who the delegates are

The state parliament of Schleswig-Holstein on 11 November 2026 settled a list of 23 delegates for the Federal Convention, the body that will choose the successor to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD). The vote takes place on 30 January 2027 in Berlin. The most prominent name on the list is former chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), who was sent to the 2022 convention from neighbouring Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The CDU also nominated Minister-President Daniel Günther, federal education minister Karin Prien and former handball player Patrick Wiencek of THW Kiel. The Greens put forward Caroline Wahl, a bestselling author who lives in Kiel and wrote 22 Bahnen. The SPD nominated the writer Dörte Hansen, author of Altes Land and Mittagsstunde, and also placed Laura Pooth, chair of DGB Nord, and Ulf Kämpfer, the party's top candidate for the state election, on the list.

The fuller list adds eight further CDU names, including Kristina Herbst and Tobias Koch. It places Aminata Touré, Lasse Petersdotter Munstermann and Birgit Hinrichsen with the Greens and Serpil Midyatli with the SPD. Taken together, the list mixes sitting politicians with writers, a former sportsman and a trade union leader.

Why Merkel is on the list

Merkel was sent to the 2022 convention through the CDU parliamentary group in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, her home state. After the state election there, the CDU no longer holds seats in the Schwerin state parliament and therefore cannot nominate her. To let the former chancellor still take part, the CDU parliamentary group in Schleswig-Holstein is nominating her instead. The convention has 1260 members in total, with half drawn from the Bundestag and half from the state delegations. The number of delegates from each state follows that state's share of the German population, which is how the Schleswig-Holstein quota of 23 was set.

The Aigner nomination

The CDU and CSU have nominated Ilse Aigner (CSU) for the office of head of state. The SPD and the leadership of the Greens have recommended supporting her. Aigner presented herself to the parliamentary groups of the Union, the SPD and the Greens on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. In the Schleswig-Holstein factions her nomination was largely welcomed, with supporters describing her as non-partisan, close to ordinary citizens and clearly opposed to the far right. A broad majority for her election on 30 January is taking shape.

What happens next

The Federal Convention meets on 30 January 2027 in Berlin, and the Schleswig-Holstein delegates will be among its 1260 voters. The steps reported so far run from Aigner's presentation to the factions on 10 November 2026 to the state list on 11 November. Only the Berlin vote remains ahead, and it will decide who succeeds Steinmeier.