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A former rival of Chancellor Angela Merkel, absent from the political scene in recent years, joined the race to replace her as head of the main center-right party in Germany.
Friedrich Merz officially announced Tuesday his candidacy for the leadership of the Christian Democratic Union of Merkel, which should be decided at a party congress in early December. Merkel gives up her position but plans to remain Chancellor.
Merz joins two previously declared candidates: Anne-Anne Kramp-Karrenbauer, Secretary General of the CDU; and Health Minister, Jens Spahn, advocate for a more upright approach.
Merz, 62, uses the conservative and pro-business wing of the CDU.
Merz headed the party's parliamentary group when he was in opposition, a job that Merkel entrusted to him in 2002. He left parliament in 2009.
