German Christian Democratic Union Chairman Friedrich Merz secured the conservative candidacy to challenge Olaf Scholz for the chancellorship, clearing a field of rivals just over a year before the next scheduled national election.

The leaders of Germany's conservatives have agreed to nominate Christian Democrat (CDU) chief Friedrich Merz to run as chancellor in next year's federal election, the head of Bavaria's conservatives,

German opposition leader and Christian Democratic Union party chairman Friedrich Merz, left, talks to the media beside Markus Soeder, Christian Social Union party leader and state

German Christian Democratic Union Chairman Friedrich Merz secured the conservative candidacy to challenge Olaf Scholz for the chancellorship, clearing a field of potential competitors a year before the election.

Friedrich Merz, the head of Germany's Christian Democrats, and Markus Soeder, the head of their Bavarian sister party, said on Tuesday they had agreed Merz would become chancellor candidate for their conservative alliance.

"We're back on track," said Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's center-right Christian Democrats on Tuesday, after it became clear that he would be the next chancellor candidate for the center-right alliance of the CDU and its Bavarian counterpart,

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz is in position to be the conservative candidate for chancellor in next year's nationwide elections after picking up a key endorsement from a potential rival on Tuesday.