7 hours agoTurned into politics after 12 years. Who is Friedrich Merz, Germany's new Chancellor?
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)Friedrich Merz was finally elected German Chancellor. The CDU chairman received 325 votes, while 316 votes were needed for the majority needed. In the first round, Merz had failed. The chairman of the German conservative Union Christian-Democrat (CDU), Friedrich Merz, had no easy start in the new post. In [...]
Friedrich Merz was finally elected German Chancellor. The CDU chairman received 325 votes, while 316 votes were needed for the majority needed. In the first round, Merz had failed.
The chairman of the German conservative Union Christian-Democrat (CDU), Friedrich Merz, had no easy start in the new post. In the first round of voting in Bundestag on May 6th 2025, Merz failed to secure the necessary majority of 316 votes. But in the second round, he got 9 more votes than he needed to elect Chancellor. It was the first time in Germany's history that a candidate for the Chancellor is refused in the first vote, another obstacle to a political career with a discount.
Back in 12 Years in Politics
Merz, former chairman of the Union's parliamentary group, returned to Bundestag in 2021, following a 12-year absence from politics. At the age of 69, he becomes Germany's oldest Chancellor since Konrad Adenauer, who took office at the age of 73.
Merz's political career is divided into two stages: before and after the Merkel era. In 2002, when Angela Merkel took the lead in the CDU parliamentary group and later became Chancellor, Merz withdrew from the political scene. He had ambition for the Chancellor post early, but the CDU/ CSU chose to be candidate Edmund Stoiber, who went missing in front of Gerhard Schöder. Then Merz focused on his jury career and stopped running for Bundestag in 2009.
Juris, manager, speaker
From the Sauerland region in western Germany, Merz is Catholic and jurist like his father. In 1989 he was elected deputy in the European Parliament, and in 1994 he moved to Bundestag. It was marked for his direct style and powerful public speaking.
During the period away from politics, Merz became the central figure in the financial sector. From 2016 to 2020, he was chairman of BlackRock's board of supervisory in Germany a fact that for some is an advantage, but for critics remains weak due to lack of government experience.
Angela Merkel, and Friedrich Merz, chairman of the CDU parliamentary group. CSU, talking and laughing Angela Merkel, and Friedrich Merz, the chairman of the CDU parliamentary group. CSU, talking and laughing
Most conservative course
Merz represents a more conservative arm inside the CDU. He did not support criminalizing rape within marriage in 1997 and has been a strong advocate of nuclear power. It also calls for less bureaucracy and more individual responsibilities.
In 2023 he caused debate with refugee integration criticism: “There are people who don't have access to Germany... we tolerate them for some time by not deporting them, and then we're surprised to see how fathers deny teachers especially to teachers any authority over their children, who act as if they were little girls. ”
Loss of Faithfulness
Although he won the elections in February 2025, Merz's personal popularity has declined. Only 21% of Germans consider it credible, according to an April month survey. Only 40% see it as a strong leader and 27% think it “understands what worries people”, writes DW, transmits Periscope.
The decline of credibility also relates to his political maneuvers: January 2025 The CDU adopted a motion in Bundestag with the votes of the far-right AfD something that Merz had previously ruled out. “Also, in March, he agreed with the SPD and the Green Book to ease the debt brake, paving the way for a trillion-euro credit rating ) a turn that angered conservative voters.
Message for Donald Trump
In foreign policy, Merz is pro-Sending the Taurus missiles to Ukraine by crossing the predecessor's red line of Olaf Scholz. We're not parties to this war, and we don't want to be. But neither are we interested spectators,” he said in an interview for ARD 28 April.
Merz wants Germany to take on a leading role in Europe and NATO. My message to Donald Trump is: Germany is back on track,”, he said on April 9th. “We will fulfil the obligations for defence and strengthen our competitiveness for Germany, but for the entire EU. ”
His first travels as Chancellor are symbolic: Paris, Warsaw. And, very soon, perhaps even Tirana, where the European Political Community's upcoming meeting is held on May 16th.
