in the spotlight
New German CDU leader draws scrutiny for past comments on Syria and Russia
Armin Laschet, the likely successor to Angela Merkel, has defended Putin and espoused controversial views about Assad

Dirk Vorderstraße
Armin Laschet
Armin Laschet’s victory in the Saturday runoff election for the leadership of Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union strongly suggests that he is well-poised to succeed Angela Merkel, the long-serving German chancellor, when she steps down in September after 16...