Merkel Ally Takes Inside Track to Succeed Her as Chancellor
- Spahn surprises by backing moderate Laschet for CDU leader
- Merkel-antagonist Merz faces tough task to overcome alliance
Jens Spahn, left, and Armin Lascket attend a news conference in Berlin on Feb. 25.
Photographer: Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
A moderate in Angela Merkel’s mold became the clear front-runner to replace her after a vocal conservative contender backed his bid to lead the Christian Democratic Union, likely easing pressure on the German leader.
Armin Laschet, 58, the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, won the support of Health Minister Jens Spahn, 39, a move that defuses concerns over a bruising eight-week leadership race and power struggles in the run-up to the next election.