Friedrich Merz



The 63-year-old lawyer left politics for the financial industry about a decade ago, but stepped down from his role at asset manager Blackrock last week, saying he wanted to get "more politically involved" in the future.

Having been ousted as parliamentary leader of the CDU by Merkel in 2002, many have said he has never forgiven the chancellor, though he has downplayed the idea of any lasting resentment towards her.



Merz has built up a personal fortune of millions, including two private jets, which has caused controversy, particularly after he claimed that he remained a member of the middle class.

He promises to return the CDU to its former strong position. He says he can win back millions of voters who drifted to the AfD and has presented himself as more liberal than in the past on issues such as gay marriage

Jens Spahn



Still aged only 39, the youngest member of Merkel’s fourth cabinet has in the past portrayed himself first and foremost as a critic of the chancellor’s refugee policy, calling it “the white elephant in the room”.

But his stint at the health ministry has revealed a new side to the ambitious and energetic politician, who has fought to introduce policies that weren't a natural fit with his previous free-market conservative profile, such as compulsory measles vaccinations for children.

He is married to his long-term partner Daniel Funke, the editor of society magazine Bunte.

Armin Laschet

A staunch defender of Merkel's migration policy and an uncompromising critic of the AfD, Laschet holds a natural position of authority in the CDU as premier of the large state of North-Rhine Westphalia.

Laschet pulled off a coup by ousting the Social Democratic Party in this traditional centre-left stronghold in 2017.

Known as a moderate in policy terms, Laschet is also still relatively unknown at federal level.





Norbert Röttgen

The senior German conservative politician has put himself forward as a surprise candidate. He has something of a national profile due to his role as head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, but is not seen as a big hitter in the party. He also served as an environment minister under Merkel from 2009 to 2012.

In the past, Röttgen has been seen as someone who could work with the Greens, currently the second-biggest party in the polls after the conservative bloc.