Three seeking to succeed Merkel

The race to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor will take a leap forward on April 25 when the ruling Christian Democrats select a new party leader.

The successful candidate will likely become the party's pick to take over as chancellor when Merkel steps down in October 2021 after 15 years in charge.

The Reuters news agency says the selection of a new chairman could end a crisis in the party that threatens its grip on power.

The succession issue had looked cut and dried before Merkel's chosen successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the current chairwoman of the party, suddenly withdrew from the race earlier this month.

The turmoil created by her withdrawal was compounded on Sunday by disappointing state election results in Hamburg, where the party, which is also known as the CDU, limped home in third place with only 11.2 percent of the vote.

Reuters said it looked as if voters were punishing the party for pandering to far-right voters during an earlier mayoral election.

Kramp-Karrenbauer said of the April 25 meeting: "A new party chairman or chairwoman will be elected at this party congress. This is a clear signal for the CDU candidate for chancellor."

The party will want its new leader to be in place ahead of the next federal election, which is set for October 2021.

Four candidates have thrown their hats in the ring.

Armin Laschet, premier of North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, is the frontrunner, according to the Financial Times.

Former leadership challenger Friedrich Merz is also vying for the job, as is outsider Norbert Roettgen, who leads Parliament's foreign affairs committee.

Laschet has already won the backing of Health Minister Jens Spahn, who himself was initially expected to run. Laschet said Spahn will serve as his deputy, if he is elected.

Spahn, who has strongly criticized Merkel's liberal refugee policy, is likely to appeal to people on the right.

Laschet, who is seen as a moderate, said he plans to carry on Merkel's work.

"I don't see the point of distancing ourselves from the 15 successful years," he said.

Pundits say the pairing will likely appeal to all sections of the party, but require compromises from both men.

The Guardian quoted Spahn as saying: "The CDU is bigger than either one of us; this is about the future of our country and the CDU."

Merz, Laschet's main challenger, says the choice is "between continuity and a fresh start".

"We must break out into a new era, we can't just keep on with business as usual," the Financial Times quoted him as saying.

The CDU party chairman is likely to be the party's candidate for chancellor, although the decision will need the blessing of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the CSU.