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.

Germany’s opposition center-right Christian Democratic Union has chosen its leader Friedrich Merz to be its candidate for chancellor in next year’s national election.

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.