Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), have chosen CDU party leader Friedrich Merz be their candidate for chancellor in the 2025 general election, Paralel.Az reports citing DW.

His potential rival, Bavarian state Premier Markus Söder of the CSU, reportedly declined to run as the conservative bloc's top candidate.

Merz and Söder announced the decision at a press conference at noon (1000 GMT/UTC) on Tuesday.

"To keep it short, the chancellorship question is answered — it's Friedrich Merz," said Söder. "I'm fine with this, and I support it absolutely," the Bavarian politician said, adding that he felt this would disappoint those inside Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition.