Overview
- The AfD formally nominated Thomas Berthold as its candidate for the Federal Convention, a decision the party announced on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
- Berthold is a former Germany defender who won the 1990 FIFA World Cup, played for clubs in Germany and Italy, and later worked as a manager, TV pundit and columnist.
- Opponents pointed to Berthold’s public opposition to COVID-19 protection measures and his appearances with the Querdenken movement as the main source of controversy.
- The Federal Convention to elect the next president is set for January 30, 2027, and CSU candidate Ilse Aigner is widely seen as the likely winner because she is backed by the Union, SPD and Greens.
- The nomination fits a pattern of the AfD using high-profile outsiders to gain attention, a tactic that is likely to keep the debate focused on Berthold’s past activism and his personal reputation rather than on a realistic bid for the presidency.