Ex-parliamentary conservative group leader joins race to replace Merkel as CDU chair

A former parliamentary group leader of Angela Merkel's conservative bloc wants to join the race to replace the German chancellor as chairwoman of her Christian Democrats (CDU), conservative politicians told Reuters on Monday.

Friedrich Merz was the parliamentary leader of the CDU/CSU alliance 200-2002 and was also a member of the European Parliament. He now serves as chairman of BlackRock Germany.