Norbert Roettgen seeks to lead CDU

German conservative lawmaker Norbert Roettgen has put himself forward as a surprise contender to take over as leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU).

Roettgen, head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee and a former environment minister, confirmed to Reuters a report in regional newspaper Rheinische Post, which said he had written to outgoing CDU leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to express his interest.