Berlin: Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is poised to become the next chancellor following his party’s victory in the recent national elections, marking a significant shift in German politics.
National Elections Germany
The CDU received 28.5% of the votes, surpassing Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which achieved 20%. Merz now seeks to form a stable coalition amid complex economic and geopolitical challenges, promising dependable leadership for Germany.
Friedrich Merz, posted on his official X page after Germany’s Christian Democratic Union with a caption that read: “Wir leben in einer Zeit großer Herausforderungen und Krisen. Ich habe mich sehr über die Glückwünsche aus dem In- und Ausland gefreut. Gemeinsam mit unseren Verbündeten wird Deutschland einen Beitrag zu Freiheit und Sicherheit in der Welt leisten. (FM)”
which translates to: “We live in a time of great challenges and crises. I was very pleased to receive congratulations from Germany and abroad. Together with our allies, Germany will make a contribution to freedom and security in the world. (FM)”
Who Are Friedrich Merz?
Friedrich Merz, born on November 11, 1955, in Brilon, comes from a conservative Catholic legal family and joined the CDU in 1972 while studying law. Married to lawyer Charlotte Merz, he has three children.
His political career began in 1989 at the European level, transitioning to the Bundestag in 1994. After a hiatus from politics in 2009, Merz found success as a corporate lawyer and held key positions at BlackRock. At 69, he stages an unexpected comeback, aiming for the chancellorship, after years as a corporate lobbyist, having lost prominence during Angela Merkel’s leadership.
Merz Bashes Against Musk Over German Elections
Friedrich Merz stated that U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk must be ready to encounter repercussions for interfering in the German election campaign if he assumes office.
“What happened in this election campaign cannot go unchallenged,” Merz, the front-runner from the center-right conservative alliance, told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. “It can be a political response. It can be a legal response. I want to analyze this calmly after this election campaign.”
Political Career
After two failed attempts, Merz secured CDU leadership in 2022, embodying the pre-reunification West German values of pro-business and transatlanticism from his socially conservative Sauerland roots. However, his rightward shift in strategy has inadvertently boosted the AfD’s popularity, particularly in Eastern Germany.
His hardline stance on immigration, supported by tougher policies with AfD collaboration, has led to internal criticism. While he has ruled out cooperation with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), doubts about his coalition strategy’s effectiveness persist. On the European front, Merz’s pro-NATO stance and military support for Ukraine, including potential Taurus missile provisions, represent significant shifts in Germany’s leadership and may reshape European dynamics.
