The 69-year-old CDU leader Friedrich Merz is a major favourite for the German chancellorship after Sunday's snap election. #EuropeNews
Friedrich Merz, a prominent figure in German politics, is currently favored to become Germany's next Chancellor. He leads the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Germany's largest opposition party, and has been a significant player in German politics for decades. Merz, who previously served as a member of the European Parliament and was the CDU/CSU group leader in the Bundestag, has a strong background in law and business, having worked as a tax advisor and lawyer. His political career saw a resurgence when he took over the CDU leadership from Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in 2022. Known for his conservative views, Merz advocates for economic liberalism, lower taxes, and a stricter immigration policy. His potential chancellorship is seen as a shift towards more conservative policies in Germany, especially in contrast to the current government led by Olaf Scholz. However, his path to the chancellery would require winning the next federal election, where he would need to navigate the complex landscape of coalition politics in Germany.