Friedrich Merz is positioned to become the tenth chancellor of post-World War II Germany, marking the peak of a political journey that had once been overshadowed by notable figures within his party.
At the age of 69, Merz leads the center-right Union bloc, which recently secured 28.6% of the votes in the national elections, giving him a significant chance to form a new government. The most probable scenario seems to involve a coalition with the Social Democrats, who have been managing a coalition since 2021 alongside two other parties, a task that has garnered them public unpopularity.
For Merz, a lawyer by profession, the role of chancellor has been a long time coming. His political rise was interrupted when former Chancellor Angela Merkel took control in the early 2000s, leading him to retreat from active politics for several years. Despite possessing considerable political experience, he steps into the chancellery without having held a prior governmental position.
The relationship between Merz and Merkel has been complicated, defined by mutual admiration and competition for leadership. Merkel once called Merz a remarkable orator and acknowledged his ambitions for power, yet recognized that this desire created friction between them. In her memoir, she reflected, “We grew up completely differently, which was more of an opportunity than an obstacle. But there was one problem, right from the start: We both wanted to be the boss.”
After the Union’s narrow defeat in the 2002 national elections, Merkel solidified her leadership over Germany’s center-right, replacing Merz as leader of its parliamentary group while also leading the Christian Democratic Union. She held the chancellorship from 2005 until 2021.
Following his exit from Parliament in 2009, Merz took a hiatus from active politics, focusing on his career in law and overseeing BlackRock’s German division. During this time, he frequently traveled for business to the U.S. and China, but stayed rooted in Germany. Volker Resing, author of “Friedrich Merz: his path to power,” claims Merz could be the most internationally experienced chancellor Germany has had since WWII, should he assume office. Resing noted that Merz emphasizes independence, creativity, and personal initiative over state reliance.
Merz made his political comeback after Merkel announced her decision to step down as CDU leader in 2018, deciding against a fifth chancellorship. Although he faced defeat from centrist contenders in various party leadership contests in 2018 and early 2021, his perseverance paid off when he eventually became the party leader following its defeat under current Chancellor Olaf Scholz in 2021. Merz assured his influence by assuming leadership over the Union’s parliamentary faction as well. Resing argues that his confrontational approach to politics often drives meaningful debate and progress.
Throughout the election, Merz committed to revitalizing Germany’s struggling economy and addressing irregular migration. His stance gained traction after a tragic incident where a migrant fatally attacked two individuals in Aschaffenburg. Merz advocated for stricter immigration laws and managed to have a nonbinding motion in parliament supporting increased border restrictions, which received support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). This alignment has drawn criticism against him for purportedly engaging with the far-right, which prompted both public backlash and a reprimand from Merkel. Critics have characterized this as indicative of Merz’s impulsive nature, as protests erupted in response to the motion.
Despite the criticism, Merz maintains that he did not cooperate with the AfD, asserting his stance against ever forming a coalition with the party if he ascends to the chancellorship. Raised in a rural area, Merz represents a constituency characterized by its grounded and reserved demeanor, which has undoubtedly influenced his conservative values and family-oriented perspective. He has been a member of the CDU since 1972, and his political career spans back to his election to the European Parliament in 1989 and the German parliament in 1994.
Outside politics, Merz is an avid pilot, occasionally flying his small plane from his western German home to Berlin on early Monday mornings. Despite criticisms that he is indulging in a wealthy hobby, he continues to pursue flying passionately. Resing shared insights on Merz’s enthusiasm, noting, “When you talk to him about flying, his eyes light up. He describes the freedom experienced when above the clouds.”
