梅爾茨支持巴伐利亞保守派艾格納　德國可望迎來首位女性總統

柏林，11月9日（路透）——德國總理弗里德里希・梅爾茨（Friedrich Merz）週一提名伊爾莎・艾格納（Ilse Aigner）為其保守派陣營候選人，接替總統法蘭克-華特・史坦麥爾（Frank-Walter Steinmeier）這項主要具禮儀性質的職務，德國明年可望迎來首位女性國家元首。BERLIN, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Germany looks set to get its first female head of state next year after Chancellor Friedrich Merz nominated Ilse Aigner on Monday as his conservatives' candidate to replace President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the largely ceremonial role.

在梅爾茨所屬保守派、執政聯盟夥伴社會民主黨，以及綠黨支持下，艾格納極可能在1月由聯邦大會選出。聯邦大會由聯邦議院議員與德國16個邦議會代表組成。With the support of Merz's conservatives, their Social Democrat partners in Germany's ruling coalition and the Greens, Aigner is very likely to be elected in January by the Federal Convention comprising members of the lower house of parliament and delegates from Germany's 16 federal state parliaments.

社會民主黨籍的史坦麥爾任期將於3月結束。The term of Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, ends in March.

艾格納目前擔任巴伐利亞邦議會議長，過去曾任聯邦農業部長。她表示，若當選，將致力於克服德國社會分歧。Aigner, who is currently speaker of the Bavarian parliament and has previously served as a federal minister of agriculture, said that, if elected, she would work to overcome divisions in German society.

她站在梅爾茨身旁表示：「我們的國家與我們的民主——是的，正受到來自內部與外部的攻擊。」"Our country and our democracy – yes, they are under attack from within and without," she said, standing alongside Merz.

她說：「極端分子正在慶祝他們的勝利，意識形態也正在抬頭。分裂被煽動，共識遭到貶抑。」"Extremists are celebrating their triumphs, and ideologies are on the rise. Division is being fuelled, and consensus is being disparaged," she said.

艾格納是基督教社會聯盟成員；基社盟是梅爾茨所屬基督教民主聯盟在巴伐利亞的姊妹黨。她並未進一步說明，但德國主流政黨正不得不面對極右翼「德國另類選擇黨」崛起；民調顯示，該黨可能在預定於2029年初舉行的下屆聯邦大選後成為最大黨。Aigner, a member of the Christian Social Union, the Bavarian sister party of Merz's Christian Democrats, did not elaborate, but Germany's mainstream parties are having to contend with the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, which opinion polls suggest could become the biggest party after the next federal elections, due in early 2029.

「一位有尊嚴、有溫度的總統」'A PRESIDENT WITH DIGNITY AND HEART'

梅爾茨稱讚艾格納「明確承諾捍衛我們民主的基本價值」，並稱她堅定反對仇恨與極端主義。Merz praised Aigner's "clear commitment to the fundamental values of our democracy" and what he said was her firm opposition to hatred and extremism.

他在電視聲明中表示：「伊爾莎・艾格納是德意志聯邦共和國的一大收穫。她將是一位有尊嚴、有溫度的總統，一位能凝聚人民、指引方向並激發辯論的總統。」"Ilse Aigner is a win for the Federal Republic of Germany. A president with dignity and heart, a president who brings people together, sets a direction and sparks debate," he said in a televised statement.

雖然德國總統的正式職責主要限於簽署法案使其成為法律，以及正式任命部長，但這位國家元首也被期待在日常政治之外，扮演重要的道德發聲角色。Although the German president's official duties are mainly limited to signing legislation into law and formally appointing ministers, the head of state is also expected to provide an important moral voice beyond daily politics.

61歲的艾格納曾接受電機工程技術員訓練，並在直升機製造商歐直（Eurocopter）從事電力系統開發工作。她從地方政治開啟政治生涯，之後於1998年當選聯邦議員。Aigner, 61, trained as an electrical engineering technician and worked in electrical-systems development for helicopter maker Eurocopter. She began her political career in local politics before being elected to the federal parliament in 1998.

她曾在前總理安格拉・梅克爾（Angela Merkel）任內擔任農業部長，之後返回家鄉巴伐利亞，並於2018年成為邦議會議長。She served as agriculture minister under former Chancellor Angela Merkel before returning to her home state of Bavaria, where she became speaker of the state parliament in 2018.

一名社會民主黨高層成員在匿名情況下對記者稱讚艾格納是「一位經驗豐富、務實親民的政治人物」，能夠團結德國人。A senior member of the Social Democrats, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, praised Aigner as "an experienced, down-to-earth politician" who would be able to bring Germans together.

綠黨領導層在致該黨國會黨團成員的信中，呼籲支持艾格納的提名，「為了凝聚力、相互尊重，以及跨越黨派界線強化民主中間力量」。In a letter to members of its parliamentary party, the Greens' leadership urged support for Aigner's nomination "for cohesion, mutual respect and strengthening the democratic centre beyond party boundaries".

（James Mackenzie報導，Markus Wacket補充報導Gareth Jones編輯）(Reporting by James Mackenzie, additional reporting by Markus WacketEditing by Gareth Jones)