Merkel urges Germans to back her party’s choice of successor

Outgoing chancellor implores public to pick Armin Laschet over his surging centre-left rival

Angela Merkel has used what is likely to be her last speech in the German parliament to make her most impassioned intervention in the electoral race so far, urging the public to vote for her party's beleaguered candidate over his surging centre-left rival.

The chancellor, who will stand down after federal elections on 26 September, warned of the possibility of the Social Democratic party (SPD) and the Greens governing the country in a coalition with the far-left Die Linke.