Germany's Ruling Christian Democrats Pick Merkel Loyalist as New Leader
January 18, 2021 08:13 Germany's ruling Christian Democrats (CDU) Saturday chose Armin Laschet, premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, as their new leader. The pick suggests the party favors continuing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's middle-of-the-road policies when she steps down in September after 16 years in office. Laschet's win puts him in position to succeed Merkel when the CDU and its sister party, the Christian Social Union, decide in March who should become the center-right bloc's candidate for chancellor in national elections. The CDU has led Germ...