Meet the Three Candidates Aiming to Replace Merkel

These elections will be held after the former Freedom of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Annegret Kramp-Carrenbauer surrendered during February.

Three candidates are already in the race, conservative Friedrich Merz, liberal Armin Laschet and Norbert Rötgen. But what does each of them represent?

Merz wants to end Merkel's era, Germany's longest-lived Chancellor. Liberal politician ran for CDU chairman in 2018 but was defeated by Kramp-Carrenbauer.

From 2000-2002 he was the leader of the parliamentary group in Bundestag until Merkel removed him from office since then he has been her rival. Since 2009, he has not been a member, but he worked as a lawyer and was on the board overseer of Blackrock Investment Company. Merz has no government experience. If he were in charge of the party, he could probably win the sympathy of former CDU voters who have turned towards the German Alternative (AfD).

Laschet, on the other hand, wants to follow Merkel's policies. He is prime minister of the North Rhino-Westpholia. Laschet is the only candidate to make important decisions during the pandemic. Laschet himself appreciates his experience in government and the fact that he has already won an advantage over his opponents.

The other candidate Rötgen may be a surprise even though there are many points against him. In 2012, he lost the election for prime minister in North Rhino-Westpholia. Then Merkel removed him from the post of environment minister. He says he supports a modern centre policy and wants to fight climate change. Among the other two candidates, Rottgen describes himself as co-operative.

And yet if no candidate wins the majority, then a runoff is expected to be held.