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Two conservative candidates to succeed Merkel
By EUobserver
Merkel loyalist Armin Laschet (CDU) and Bavarian leader Markus Söder (CSU) have both said they are ready to run for Germany's chancellorship in September elections. The conservative Christian Democrat-Christian Social Union bloc must now decide. The CDU and CSU are part of a grand coalition with the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD). Merkel - who has been chancellor since 2005 - said she would not stand again.