Armin Laschet

…emerged to anoint CDU leader Armin Laschet as her designated successor. Merkel’s endorsement may have brought some wavering CDU-CSU supporters to the polls, but it was ultimately not enough. The CDU-CSU won less than a quarter of the vote, its worst performance in a federal election in the postwar era.

…ruled out by the SPD, Armin Laschet, Merkel’s successor as CDU leader, made overtures to the Greens and FDP in an attempt to form a government. Olaf Scholz of the SPD could claim a much stronger mandate based on his party’s performance, however, and, as Scholz began coalition talks, it…