FIELD OPEN AS CDU VOTES TO CHOOSE MERKEL’S SUCCESSOR

The race to lead Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) appears wide open as her party heads into a key vote on Saturday, January 16, 2021, which could be the first step towards selecting the German chancellor's successor, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

The 1,001 delegates attending the online convention are to select from three candidates for CDU leader: Armin Laschet, who is premier of Germany's most populous state of North Rhine Westphalia, corporate lawyer Friedrich Merz and foreign policy expert Norbert Roettgen.

The vote comes at the start of a crucial year in German politics, with national elections set for September. Merkel plans to retire at the end of her current fourth term.

In an opening address to the conference on Friday evening, the chancellor appealed for unity.

"I hope a team will be elected that takes the fate of our proud people's party into its own hands and then works with all members to find the right answers to the tasks of the future," Merkel said.

Traditionally, the CDU leader would spearhead the election campaign as chancellor candidate for the heavyweight party and its Bavarian-based allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU).

But this year, other possible contenders to lead the CDU-CSU into the election have emerged, notably CSU leader Markus Soeder, who is also the Bavarian premier and one of Germany's most popular politicians.

Soeder warned delegates on Friday not to be complacent about their electoral chances, saying that the pandemic had changed Germany more than many realize. A decision on the parties' chancellor candidate is expected in March.

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