Angela Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU bloc has already announced its top candidate for the 2021 general election. CDU chairman Armin Laschet, a staunch supporter of Angela Merkel, will run for the chancellorship in the elections. A total of 31 members approved his candidature, while Markus Soder, the second candidate, won only 9 votes.
In 2018, Chancellor Merkel said that she planned to step down and distance herself from the entire election process.