German conservatives Laschet and Soeder put themselves forward to succeed MerkelBavarian leader Markus SΓΆder and Merkel loyalist Armin Laschet have both thrown their hats in the ring to run as the conservative bloc's candidate for German chancellor.
German election: CDU backs Armin Laschet as its candidate to succeed Merkel in ChancelleryLaschet, the 60-year-old premier for North Rhine-Westphalia was picked over Markus Soder, the popular leader of Bavaria's Christian Social Union.
CDU party board backs Laschet to run as German conservative chancellor candidate
![German conservatives Laschet and Soeder put themselves forward to succeed Merkel [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20210425/2104112051-German-conservatives-Laschet-and-Soeder-put-themselves-forward.jpg)
![German election: CDU backs Armin Laschet as its candidate to succeed Merkel in Chancellery [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20210420/2104200732-German-election-CDU-backs-Armin-Laschet-as-its.jpg)
