Greens’ Baerbock Wins Over Managers in Merkel-Succession Bid
- In a poll, Baerbock’s chancellor candidacy had most support
- Conservative’s Laschet ranked third, SPD’s Scholz fourth
Armin Laschet in Berlin on April 20.
Photographer: Stefanie Loos/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Annalena Baerbock, the chancellor candidate for Germany’s Greens, was the surprising winner of a poll of the country’s business leaders, underscoring her early edge in the race to succeed Angela Merkel.
In a survey of 1,500 managers, Baerbock -- a 40-year-old who has never held a government post -- beat Armin Laschet, the candidate from Merkel’s conservatives, as well as Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, who is running for the Social Democrats.