EXCLUSIVE: 'Sparks could fly' between Donald Trump and Friedrich Merz, who is tipped to be Germany's next Chancellor, an expert says.
Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz (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 being Leader of the Opposition in the Bundestag since February 2022. In September 2024, he became the Union's candidate for Chancellor of Germany ahead of the 2025 federal election.
Friedrich Merz: Germany’s Comeback Conservative Staking His Claim
He’s been dismissed as a relic, a polarizing figure, and even a political gambler. Yet Friedrich Merz, 69, now stands closer than ever to the chancellorship—a role he’s chased for decades. To supporters, he’s the antidote to Germany’s leadership malaise; to critics, a symbol of the Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) rightward lurch.
Merz recently jolted German politics by pushing a controversial motion to tighten migration rules with tacit support from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). While the proposal failed, the move shattered a long-standing CDU taboo against engaging with the AfD, sparking protests and a rare rebuke from Angela Merkel. Critics call it reckless electioneering, but allies argue it’s a tactical play to siphon votes from the far right. Either way, it underscores Merz’s willingness to gamble for power—a stark departure from Merkel’s centrism.
From Political Exile to Redemption
Merz’s career has been a rollercoaster. Once a rising CDU star, he was sidelined by Merkel in the early 2000s, retreating to a lucrative corporate career that saw him amass wealth as a boardroom executive. Dubbed “yesterday’s man,” he staged a comeback in 2021, reclaiming the CDU leadership after two failed bids. Now, he’s positioned himself as Merkel’s antithesis, vowing to purge her centrist legacy and restore “traditional conservatism.”
The West German Traditionalist
Born in 1955 in Brilon, a conservative Catholic stronghold, Merz grew up in a family steeped in law and politics. His father was a judge; his wife, Charlotte, still serves as one. Though his CV paints him as strait-laced, Merz once boasted of a rebellious youth—motorcycle joyrides, late-night card games, and a legendary school party that ended with students urinating in an aquarium. Former classmates, however, recall a teen more fixated on having “the last word” than true mischief.
Ambition Over Charisma
Merz’s political ascent began in the 1990s, marked by sharp rhetoric and right-wing leanings. Colleagues describe him as a “splendid speaker” and “profound thinker,” yet his early career lacked the spark of a future chancellor. Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, a former MEP from the rival SPD, recalls a “serious, polite” Merz with a hidden humorous streak—a trait she believes faded amid political bruising.
His ambition, however, never wavered. After a stint in the European Parliament, he entered the Bundestag in 1994, championing traditionalist policies. But his hardline stance on issues like marital rape legislation in the 1990s—he voted against criminalizing it, later claiming technical objections—haunts his reputation today, particularly among women and younger voters.
Merz’s rivalry with Merkel defines his trajectory. Their clash in the early 2000s, framed as West vs. East and lawyer vs. scientist, ended with Merkel’s triumph. Merz downplays the feud, but his return to politics has been a crusade against her centrist legacy. “He’s ripping up the Merkel playbook,” says Klaus-Peter Willsch, a CDU ally, praising Merz as a “fighter” unafraid to court controversy.
As Germany heads to the polls, Merz faces scepticism. Polls show lukewarm support among women and youth, and his AfD gambit risks alienating moderates. Yet allies insist his bluntness resonates in a time of crisis. Charlotte Merz defends her husband’s egalitarianism, citing their partnership in balancing careers and childcare.
In Brussels, some quietly root for him. “Germany needs a motor,” says one EU diplomat, weary of Scholz’s stagnation. Whether Merz can unite a fractured CDU—and nation—remains unclear. But after decades of near-misses, this “comeback kid” is betting everything on one final roll of the dice.
The Verdict: Love him or loathe him, Friedrich Merz is no yesterday’s man. In a Germany craving direction, his unapologetic conservatism—and hunger for power—may yet rewrite the rules.