Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), have named CDU leader Friedrich Merz as their

candidate for chancellor in the 2025 general election.

Markus Söder, the Bavarian state premier and leader of the CSU, who could have been a contender for the nomination, has given his full backing to Merz as the conservative bloc's top candidate.

What Merz and Söder Said

The decision was announced at a joint press conference on Tuesday. Söder confirmed his support for Merz, saying, "To keep it short, the chancellorship question is answered — it's Friedrich Merz. I'm fine with this, and I fully support it." He stressed that the primary goal was to "dislodge the traffic light coalition" led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and "get Germany back on track."

Merz expressed gratitude for Söder's backing and emphasized that their leadership responsibility extended beyond personal ambitions. He also noted that their cooperation, while challenging at times, had been fruitful.

Who Is Friedrich Merz?

Merz, 68, is an economic liberal who has moved the CDU to a more conservative stance since taking over as party leader in 2022. He previously sought the chancellorship in the early 2000s but was passed over in favor of Angela Merkel. Under Merz's leadership, the CDU has focused on stricter policies, particularly regarding migration.

The CDU/CSU bloc currently leads in opinion polls, with some surveys suggesting it has more support than the combined parties of the ruling coalition led by Scholz.

Opposition and Support

Markus Söder’s support for Merz resolves any potential internal power struggle over the nomination, a contrast to the 2021 election. North Rhine-Westphalia state premier Hendrik Wüst, another possible candidate, also backed Merz.

Responding to the news while on a trip to Kazakhstan, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was "fine" with the prospect of facing Merz in the upcoming election. Photo by Michael Lucan, Wikimedia commons.