Bavarian leader joins race to run as German chancellor candidate

FILE PHOTO: Armin Laschet, head of conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, gives a statement following a meeting with his party's leadership at the CDU headquarters in Berlin, Germany March 29, 2021. Tobias Schwarz/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) -Bavarian premier Markus Soeder put himself forward on Sunday to run as the conservative candidate for German chancellor in a September election and said he would settle the question soon and amicably with his rival, the Christian Democrat (CDU) chief.

Pressure is mounting for a swift decision on whether Soeder, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), or the CDU's Armin Laschet should stand for the two-party bloc in the Sept. 26 election, making them the candidate to succeed Angela Merkel.