The leader of the opposition Christian Democratic bloc CDU/CSU Friedrich Merz will be the chancellor candidate in the 2024 Bundestag elections.
The CDU/CSU has been leading national polls convincingly for months. If the bloc wins the most votes in the elections on September 28 next year, Merz will replace the Social Democrat (SPD) Olaf Šolz as the head of the government.
Soltz's coalition with the Greens and the liberal FDP stands disastrously among voters, but he will still be the chancellor candidate of the SPD.
The government's reputation is being undermined by difficulties in addressing the severe crises of the last three years, as well as internal disputes and blockades.
On Tuesday, Merc met in Berlin with the head of the CSU and Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Zeder, who figured as a possible chancellor candidate.
The CSU does not operate outside of Bavaria, and participates in national elections in a coalition.
"The issue of the chancellor candidate has been resolved," Zeder said after the meeting.
"It will be Friedrich Merc, I'm perfectly fine with that and I support him unequivocally".
The previous day, Merc received the support of the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Vist, a popular politician from the CDU whose name was also circulated along with speculations about the chancellor's nomination.
The final, formal decision on the candidate will be announced by the leadership of both parties.
The CDU/CSU, after 16 years of Angela Merkel's dominance, fundamentally lost the Bundestag elections in 2021.
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