Friedrich Merz is the name chosen by the German CDU base for the presidency.
The former financial lawyer will therefore succeed Armin Laschet, according to the outcome of the consultation that saw him compete with the deputy Norbert Roettgen and the former minister of chancellery of Angela Merkel Helge Braun.
According to the CDU, Merz obtained 62.1% of the votes.
However, the delegates of the January Parteitag will have to officially confirm the election.
Norbert Roettgen got 25.8% and Helge Braun 12.1%.
To vote were 132,617 members of the CDU, that is 66.02 of the base, with 132,617 votes online and 115,743 by letter.