Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz (German:; born 11 November 1955) is a German politician who has served as Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since January 2022 and led the CDU/CSU (Union) parliamentary group as well as been Leader of the Opposition in the Bundestag since February 2022.

2 days ago · For weeks, Friedrich Merz appeared to be cruising towards his life-long dream of becoming Germany’s chancellor by focusing on a pro-business pitch to revive Europe’s largest economy.

4 days ago · BERLIN (AP) — The front-runner in Germany’s upcoming election said Monday that the far-right Alternative for Germany is his “most important opponent” and his party will “never” work with it, following a week in which he was accused of breaking a taboo on dealing with the far right.. Center-right opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s Union …

4 days ago · Speaking to CNN in Berlin following his Christian Democratic Party’s (CDU) convention, Friedrich Merz said he would “control [Germany’s] borders and return those who are coming without ...

Jan 31, 2025 · Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democrats broke a political taboo by working with the hard-right Alternative for Germany to toughen rules on immigration. It did not pay off.

Dec 18, 2024 · Who Is Friedrich Merz, a Leading Candidate to Be Germany’s Next Chancellor? If polls are correct, Olaf Scholz’s successor could be the 69-year-old leader of the Christian Democratic Union.

Sep 17, 2024 · Germany’s opposition center-right Christian Democratic Union has chosen its leader Friedrich Merz to be its candidate for chancellor in next year’s national election.

Dec 11, 2024 · Ten weeks away from elections and with a double-digit lead over his closest rival's party, conservative leader Friedrich Merz is getting used to being feted as Germany's next Chancellor.

Friedrich Merz, nemesis of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, is confident that he will win the upcoming election — despite his latest controversial moves siding with the far right on...

Sep 17, 2024 · Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrat Union (CDU), announced Tuesday that he will run as the conservative candidate for chancellor in Germany’s next federal election.