Angela Merkel’s replacement as German Chancellor could well be Green co-leader Annalena Baerbock – Angus Robertson

An international audience would be forgiven for not yet having heard much about Annalena Baerbock, but that is about to change rapidly.

Annalena Baerbock will run as the Green Party candidate to succeed Angela Merkel as German Chancellor in September's general election (Picture: Andreas Gora/pool/Getty Images)

Well known in German politics as the tough, talented and ambitious co-leader of the Greens, she has been named as their candidate for Chancellor in the forthcoming national elections and for the first time the Greens have a realistic chance of success.

Forty-year-old Baerbock, who hails from the eastern state of Brandenburg, is an expert on how to tackle climate change and a fluent English speaker having studied international law at the London School of Economics.

Her candidacy comes as her party rides high in the polls as the challenger to Angela Merkel’s centre-right Union coalition ahead of September elections when the CDU Chancellor steps down from office.

Her successor is still unclear as a major internal power struggle continues between new CDU leader Armin Laschet and the more popular head of Bavarian CSU sister-party Markus Söder.

While Laschet has the backing of the CDU top-brass, it is CSU leader Söder who connects much better with the public. Both men have continued to hold talks and tried to reach agreement despite the deadlock. A resolution is expected before the end of the week.

In Germany the Greens are already in administration in 11 of the 16 federal states and were just re-elected to head the government in Baden-Würtemberg.

They may well make history this September by winning at a national level for the first time.

Angus Robertson is the SNP candidate for Edinburgh Central

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