Original: In 2002, Stoiber politically out-maneuvered the leader of the CDU, Angela Merkel, and was elected the CDU\/CSU's candidate for the office of chancellor, challenging Gerhard SchrÃ der.
Simplified: In 2002, Stoiber removed the leader of the CDU, Angela Merkel, and was made the joint CDU\/CSU's candidate for the office of chancellor, with Gerhard SchrÃ der (SPD) as opponent.