It's as good as official: liberal businessman Fredrich Merz, head of the conservative Christian Democrats, will be the party's lead candidate in the upcoming federal election.

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz looks on during a press conference with Bavarian State Prime Minister Markus Soeder of the Christian Social Union (CSU) in Berlin, Germany, September 17,

German Christian Democratic Union Chairman Friedrich Merz secured the conservative candidacy to challenge Olaf Scholz for the chancellorship, clearing a field of rivals just over a year before the next scheduled national election.

The leaders of Germany's conservatives have agreed to nominate Christian Democrat (CDU) chief Friedrich Merz to run as chancellor in next year's federal election, the head of Bavaria's conservatives,

Merz is due to hold a news conference with Markus Soeder, head of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the CSU, at noon (1000 GMT).

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz has announced he will run for chancellor in next year’s elections, saying the country’s centre-right is fully united behind his candidacy. The move by the leader of the Christian Democratic Union finally resolves one of the biggest questions hovering over Europe’s biggest economy — who will lead Germany’s centre-right into the Bundestag election that current polls suggest it has a strong chance of winning.

German opposition leader and Christian Democratic Union party chairman Friedrich Merz, left, talks to the media beside Markus Soeder, Christian Social Union party leader and state

Squeezed out of top-level politics by his arch party rival Angela Merkel more than two decades ago, Friedrich Merz is on course to land his first ever government job: as Germany's next chancellor.