German opposition leader Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) smiles following a a party leaders meeting in Berlin May 30, 2005. Germany's opposition chiefs selected Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel on Monday to challenge Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at an early election that might make her the country's first woman leader. (Reuters)

    BEIJING, May 31 -- Germany's opposition conservatives have named Angela Merkel as their candidate to challenge Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in September that could produce the country's first woman leader.

    The last obstacle to her nomination fell when Edmund Stoiber, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)'s sister party in Bavaria, the Christian Social Union (CSU), backed her at a meeting of the parties' top officials.

    Standing alongside Merkel, Stoiber told a gathering of party workers and the media that her nomination had been unanimous and she had "the full mandate and the full support of the CSU and CDU".

    Merkel said her priority would be to reduce unemployment in Germany that is hovering around the five million mark.

    Opinion polls show the Christian Democrats will win, as Merkel faces off against the beleaguered Social Democratic leader who has seen his popularity plummet in the face of a stagnant economy and dissatisfaction over the direction of the country.

    Merkel's nomination came after she moved ahead of Schroeder in opinion polls for the first time.

    However the German leader is not directly elected by the voters, but by parliament after a general election.

    The latest poll showed that support for the SPD had slumped to 27 percent against 52 percent for the Christian Democrats.

    Schroeder called a vote of confidence for July 1, which he hopes to lose to be able to trigger early elections.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)