Germany’s opposition conservative alliance formally nominated Christian Democratic Union Chairman Friedrich Merz to challenge Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz in next year’s national election.

The leadership of Germany's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) on Monday unanimously confirmed party leader Friedrich Merz as their candidate for chancellor in next year's national election. The CDU's Bavarian sister party,

Squeezed out of top-level politics by his arch party rival Angela Merkel more than two decades ago, Friedrich Merz is on course to land his first ever government job: as Germany's next chancellor.