Pressure is growing on Lašet and Zeder to come to an agreement: Who will be the candidate for Chancellor of Germany?

The two contenders for the leadership of the ruling German conservative coalition in the upcoming elections found themselves under even greater pressure today to end the power struggle and agree on which of them will be the candidate to succeed Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The leaders of the two parties that have been in a multi-decade coalition, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), Armin Lašet and Markus Zeder, have expressed their desire to be conservative candidates for chancellor in the parliamentary elections on September 26.

Polls give Zeder, the governor of Bavaria, much better prospects in the elections, but Laschet, the governor of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, has been the president of the country's strongest party for years.

German Defense Minister Anegret Kramp-Karenbauer, who was replaced by Laschet at the head of the CDU, today called on both candidates to reach an agreement.

"No one can relieve them of this responsibility of leadership," Kramp-Karenbauer said.

CDU member Friedrich Mertz, whom Laschet defeated in the race for party president in January, also called on both candidates to come to an agreement.

"Get a deal. This country needs good prospects. This country needs leadership," Merc said.

The split within the CDU over the coalition's candidate for chancellor continues to complicate the decision that many are looking for, fearing that the continuation of the fight between Lashet and Zeder could cause further damage to the conservatives.

Merkel, chancellor since 2005, announced two and a half years ago that she would not run for a fifth term at the head of the government.

The Social Democratic Party of Germany's candidate for chancellor will be Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, while the Greens will announce on Monday whether they will propose Analena Berbok or Robert Habek, who are co-presidents of that party.