The CDU-CSU Partnership Wins
With 28.5% of the vote, the CDU-CSU combination emerged as the nation’s most powerful political force, according to German network ARD. With 20.7%, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came in second, gaining significant ground in the election.
Speaking to his supporters on Sunday night, Merz promised stability in government as the results showed a clear victory. According to Reuters, he declared, “Germany will once again be governed reliably.”
Friedrich Merz is who?
Friedrich Merz was born in the western German town of Brilon on November 11, 1955, into a family with a long history in law. He joined the CDU in 1972 and began practicing law in 1976. He wed Charlotte Merz, a fellow attorney who is currently a judge, in 1981. The pair has three kids.
In 1989, Merz was elected to the European Parliament, marking the beginning of his serious political career. He won an absolute majority in the Hochsauerlandkreis region, securing a seat in the German Bundestag five years later, in 1994. He became the parliamentary leader of the CDU in 2000 as a result of his quick ascent within the party. But in an internal power struggle in 2002, Angela Merkel replaced him.
Merz was marginalized after the CDU-CSU alliance partnered with the SPD to establish a coalition government in 2005, and he eventually left politics in 2009. After that, he established a prosperous legal and financial career and rose to prominence in business circles.
Friedrich Merz: Getting Back into Politics and Running for Office
In 2018, Merz returned to the political scene when Merkel declared her retirement. Although he narrowly lost the CDU leadership contest to Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, he continued to play a significant role in the party. Merz again applied for the leadership position after Kramp-Karrenbauer resigned in 2020, but Armin Laschet was chosen instead.
Even though the CDU lost the elections, his perseverance paid off in 2021 when he was re-elected to the Bundestag. Merz solidified his position as the party’s top leader in 2022 when he was appointed CDU’s national chairman.
Policy Position and Upcoming Difficulties
Merz has vowed to boost Germany’s economy and has taken a strong stand on immigration, especially with regard to unauthorized migrants. Forming a coalition government to ensure efficient governance and solidify power is his immediate challenge, though.
Merz was born in Sauerland, a conservative and rural area of West Germany, ten years after World War II. He characterized himself as a disobedient student who smoked and drank a lot yet was greatly impacted by the conservative ideals of the neighborhood. After serving in the military for a short time, he joined the CDU while still in high school and went on to study law at the University of Bonn.
An Advocate Across the Atlantic
Merz has political clout outside of Germany. He joined the European Parliament in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall down, and quickly made a name for himself as a resolute conservative. Before his career took a detour in 2002, he was positioned as a possible candidate for chancellor due to his close relationship with CDU veteran Wolfgang Schäuble.
Merz, who wrote a book titled Dare for More Capitalism amid the 2008 financial crisis, promoted free-market principles after departing the Bundestag in 2009. In addition, he chaired the lobby group Atlantik-Brücke, which promoted transatlantic relations. He developed close ties with American business executives and legislators during this time, and he promoted the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, which he has frequently cited as an inspiration for conservative leadership, is one of his favorite places to visit in the United States.
