Armin Laschet to run as CDU/CSU candidate in German election

Rival Markus Soder concedes in race to succeed Angela Merkel as conservative candidate for chancellor

Armin Laschet will run as the conservative candidate to succeed chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany's elections in September, after the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won the support of senior party leaders and his rival Markus Soder dropped out of the race.

Soder, the state premier of Bavaria and leader of CDU sister party CSU, conceded defeat at a press conference on Tuesday, saying he had already congratulated his competitor on the appointment.