Merkel announced her decision to step down from the position of chancellor, which means that her CDU party now needs to find a new leader and prepare for the upcoming elections. With this aim, party members are trying to present a united front. However, they could face competition from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany, which are gaining popularity among voters.
The leading candidate from the CDU for the chancellor position is Friedrich Merz, a proponent of the party's right wing. He aims for conservatives to secure an absolute majority in the upcoming legislative elections in the country. However, despite Merkel's successful tenure, determining the victor of the elections remains a challenging task.
"We must be realistic about the possibility of achieving an absolute majority," Merz stated.
