The elections for Chancellor Merkel’s successor are in mid-January. The German Christian Democratic ruling party CDU then elects its new leader.

The new CDU chairman is considered to be the hired new head of government of Germany, given the popularity of the party in the polls.

The elections on January 16 will take place during the first digital conference of the CDU, German media report. Germany will drive to the polls on September 26.

The CDU, by far the largest party in parliament, wanted to elect its new leader earlier. But that had to be adjourned due to the corona crisis.

Merkel has been running the country for 15 years, but no longer wants to stand for re-election. She already resigned the party chairmanship in 2018.

Her successor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer wants to stop as party chief.

There are three applicants in the race to succeed her: State Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Armin Laschet, former party leader Friedrich Merz and former minister Norbert Röttgen.