German CDU leader Merz seals conservative chancellor candidacy - Bloomberg News

Chairman of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz walks at the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany September 10, 2024. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Christian Democrat (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz will run as the conservative candidate for chancellor in next year's federal election, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the decision.

Merz is due to hold a news conference with Markus Soeder, head of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the CSU, at noon (1000 GMT).

(Writing by Madeline Chambers, editing by Thomas Seythal)