Merz Set to Meet Frontrunners in ECB Succession Bid

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet the two top contenders for European Central Bank President, Christine Lagarde's successor. The German leader will convene with Spanish candidate Pablo Hernandez de Cos and Dutchman Klaas Knot in separate meetings. De Cos' meeting with Merz is expected to take place within a few weeks, while Knot's meeting is scheduled to happen soon.

The people familiar with the matter asked not to be identified as they were revealing private deliberations. This development comes as the ECB race heats up, with both candidates vying for the top job at the European Central Bank. The meetings are seen as crucial steps in determining Lagarde's successor, who will lead the bank in shaping monetary policy for the eurozone.