Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), have nominated Friedrich Merz as their candidate for chancellor in the 2025 federal election. This decision ends speculation and internal rivalry, particularly with CSU leader Markus Söder, who has pledged his support for Merz. Merz, an economic liberal who has shifted the CDU to the right, aims to address key issues such as migration, economic reform, and support for Ukraine. Under his leadership, the CDU/CSU alliance has seen a resurgence in popularity, positioning them strongly against the incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) and its coalition partners. Merz's candidacy marks a significant departure from the more centrist policies of former Chancellor Angela Merkel.