CDU leader Friedrich Merz will be the Christian Democrats’ candidate for German chancellor in the parliamentary elections to be held in September 2025. The leader of the sister CSU, Markus Soeder, has withdrawn from the candidacy and officially supported Merz.
Soeder announced his decision during a joint press conference with the CDU leader in Berlin.
The question of the candidate for Chancellor is settled. Friedrich Merz will do it. I have nothing against it and I clearly support it.
– said the CSU leader.
The Bavarian Prime Minister stressed that the most important thing is the cooperation of the Christian Democratic Union in order to defeat the current government coalition in next year’s Bundestag elections. Soeder stressed that he had kept his promise that what happened before the 2021 parliamentary elections would not happen again. At that time – as the Tagesschau portal recalled – there was a fight between Soeder and CDU chairman Armin Laschet over the candidacy for chancellor. In the end, Laschet ran as a candidate and Soeder repeatedly criticized his election campaign. Then the EU lost the parliamentary elections – we read in the Tagesschau.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Friedrich Merz thanked Soeder for his cooperation so far. He also noted that although the leaders of the CDU and CSU are different, they share the desire to take responsibility for the country together.
The CDU chairman stressed that the joint decision of the Christian Democratic leaders was preceded by long talks.
The Union is the last party of the democratic center-left. Therefore, we have a great responsibility before us.
Merz said. Among the important campaign topics ahead of next year’s general elections, the CDU leader highlighted the issue of migration and the economic situation in Germany.
Previously, there was speculation in party circles that, in addition to Merz, Soeder had also signaled increasing interest in running in recent weeks. The CSU leader has performed well in polls, according to which a majority of Christian Democrat supporters see him as the best candidate for chancellor. On Monday evening, the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wuest (CDU), announced that he would not run for chancellor and supported Merz’s candidacy.
Friedrich Merz is expected to receive the official nomination of the Christian Democrats next Monday, following meetings of the committees of both parties.
The next Bundestag elections will take place on 28 September 2025.
link/PAP
