Germany’s conservative leader, Friedrich Merz, is poised to become the country’s next chancellor after his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) secured the largest share of votes in the national elections. The victory marks a significant shift in German politics, as Merz’s party outperformed Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), which suffered its worst postwar election result.
CDU/CSU bloc secured a national election victory on Sunday, putting Friedrich Merz on track to become the country’s next chancellor. With 28.5% of the vote, Merz’s conservatives outpaced the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which surged to a record-breaking 20%. Despite this win, Merz faces an uphill battle in forming a stable coalition, as his leadership begins during one of Germany’s most complex economic and geopolitical periods in decades.
As his party secured a decisive lead on Sunday evening, Friedrich Merz addressed his supporters, promising, “Germany will once again have stable and dependable leadership,” according to Reuters.
Political comeback against all odds
Friedrich Merz was born on November 11, 1955, in Brilon, Germany, into a family with a strong legal background. According to The Economist, Merz comes from a family of conservative Catholic lawyers.
He began studying law in 1976 but had already joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in 1972. In 1981, he married Charlotte Merz, a fellow lawyer who later became a judge, and together they have three children.
Merz entered politics at the European level in 1989 when he was elected to the European Parliament. In 1994, he transitioned to national politics by winning a seat in the Bundestag, securing an absolute majority in the Hochsauerlandkreis constituency, according to the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung think tank.
In 2009, Merz stepped away from politics and spent over a decade in the private sector, building a successful career. He became a corporate lawyer at a prominent Düsseldorf firm, amassed significant wealth, and held senior roles at BlackRock and other major companies. A trained pilot, he owns and flies two private aircraft in his spare time.
At 69, Merz’s rise to the chancellorship marks an unexpected comeback. Once considered a political has-been, he spent years outside government as a corporate lobbyist and board member. A protégé of the late finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble, Merz had been a key figure in the early 2000s as the leader of the Christian Democrats’ (CDU) parliamentary group. However, Angela Merkel’s ascent sidelined him, leaving him in the political wilderness for years. After two failed attempts to lead the CDU, his persistence paid off in 2022, when he finally won the party leadership.
Hailing from the socially conservative Sauerland region in western Germany, Merz embodies the values of a pre-reunification West Germany—pro-business, transatlanticist, and socially right-leaning. However, his support remains weaker in eastern Germany, where the AfD has gained significant traction. His strategy to shift the CDU rightward aimed to neutralise the AfD’s appeal, but instead, the party doubled its support under his leadership.
Migration and coalition challenges
Merz has taken a hardline stance on immigration, a key issue in the election. In January, he backed a parliamentary resolution tightening migration policies, which passed with AfD votes—a move that drew criticism from within his own party. While Merz has ruled out working with the AfD, political analysts remain skeptical of his long-term strategy, as he may struggle to form a coalition government without broad support.
What Merz’s leadership means for Europe
Despite domestic challenges, Merz’s strong transatlantic ties and pro-NATO stance may be welcomed by European allies, especially amid uncertainty over US foreign policy under a potential second Trump presidency. He has been an advocate for military aid to Ukraine and has indicated willingness to send high-end Taurus missiles—something his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, repeatedly blocked.
(With inputs from agencies)