Merkel backs Laschet as her successor
The Hindu
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday endorsed Armin Laschet as the best choice to succeed her, ahead of the September 26 elections that polls show her CDU party losing under its gaffe-prone new
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday endorsed Armin Laschet as the best choice to succeed her, ahead of the September 26 elections that polls show her CDU party losing under its gaffe-prone new leader. “It is a special election, not only because for the first time since 1949 no incumbent Chancellor is running for re-election,” Mr. Merkel said in what was likely her last speech in Parliament ahead of the vote. “It is also a special election because it is a decision on the direction of our country in difficult times — and it is not irrelevant who governs this country,” she said. “The best way for our country is a CDU/CSU-led federal government with Armin Laschet as Chancellor, because his government stands for stability, reliability, moderation and centrality.” Mr. Laschet, for long the favourite candidate for CDU and its Bavarian CSU ally, has seen his ratings plummet following a series of gaffes.More Related News