Germany’s election takes shape
The Greens and the Christian Democrats name their candidates for the top job
![](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/sites/default/files/images/2021/04/articles/main/20210424_eud001.jpg)
THE CONTRAST was glaring. At 11am sharp on April 19th Germany’s Green Party anointed Annalena Baerbock as its first-ever candidate for the chancellorship, which will be vacated when Angela Merkel steps down after an election in September. Ms Baerbock, a 40-year-old MP, had won the agreement of Robert Habeck, the co-leader with whom she has helped turn the Greens from electoral also-rans to potential leaders of government. The process was smoothly organised, its result clearly communicated. Ms Baerbock’s approval at a party congress in June will be a formality.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Green on black”
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