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The CDU politician Friedrich Merz has spoken out against Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) as the Union's candidate for chancellor.

“His candidacy would have significant consequences for the relationship between the CDU and CSU.

In the current situation, it cannot actually be in the interest of the CSU to put the candidate for chancellor, ”said Merz on Friday to the“ Westfälischer Anzeiger ”.

Merz referred to the state elections in Bavaria in 2023. "Given the current state of affairs, only Markus Söder can win with an absolute majority," said the CDU politician.

"A Chancellor Söder would also change the internal relationship in the Union significantly to the detriment of the CSU," he argued further.

If the chancellor came from the CSU, the party could “no longer play its role of always being a little opposition to its own government”.

The chances for a candidate for chancellor of the North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister Armin Laschet described Merz as "unchanged good".

The CDU could "actually not let the candidate for chancellor be stolen," he emphasized.

Merz appealed to the Union to clarify the K question "in the next few days".

Such a question also has "nothing to do with Easter or Pentecost".

“It's about time,” emphasized Merz.