AfD nominates former footballer Thomas Berthold for German presidency

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) nominated former professional footballer Thomas Berthold as its candidate for the German presidency during a meeting of the federal executive committee and regional leaders on November 14, 2026. The nomination comes ahead of the German presidential election scheduled for January 30, 2027. The presidency is a primarily representative office within the German political system.

Candidate background and career

Thomas Berthold is a 62-year-old former professional footballer and a 1990 World Cup champion. His professional career included playing for several prominent clubs, such as Roma, Bayern Munich, VfB Stuttgart, and Eintracht Frankfurt. He also served as a coach for Fortuna Düsseldorf. Regarding his international career, sources provide conflicting data on the exact number of matches he played for the German national team, with one source citing 62 matches and another citing 64 matches.

The AfD leadership, including Co-chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, stated that the party intends to enable a true new beginning at the head of the state by choosing a non-partisan candidate. Thomas Berthold has expressed views regarding his lack of trust in political elites during the pandemic. He has been a critic of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and was associated with the Querdenken movement.

Political competition and reactions

The CDU/CSU bloc has nominated Ilse Aigner, the President of the Bavarian Landtag, for the presidency. The SPD and the Greens have expressed support for the candidacy of Ilse Aigner. The current President of Germany is Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The nomination of Thomas Berthold has drawn criticism from political opponents. Stephan Mayer, the spokesperson for sports policy for the CDU/CSU bloc, criticized the candidacy and the pandemic-era statements made by Thomas Berthold. Additionally, Ralf Stegner of the SPD criticized the nomination, describing it as a "crazy idea."

Election process and context

The German President is elected by the Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung). The AfD does not hold a majority within this body. This nomination follows the 2022 nomination of Maxe Otte by the AfD for the presidency. While the role of the President is largely representative, the selection process involves the members of the Federal Convention.

Glossary

• Alternative for Germany (AfD) — The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is a political party. It nominated Thomas Berthold as its candidate for the German presidency.
• German presidency — The presidency is a primarily representative office within the German political system. The President of Germany is elected by the Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung).
• Bayern Munich — Bayern Munich is a football club. During the Nazi era, it was one of a few clubs that moved to support or protect its members during the purge of Jews from sports organisations.
• Eintracht Frankfurt — Eintracht Frankfurt is a registered sports club from Frankfurt am Main, founded in 1899. It is a large multi-sport club with a professional football team.
• Fortuna Düsseldorf — Fortuna Düsseldorf is a football club. It was one of the teams that qualified for the UEFA Cup.