Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz (German:; born 11 November 1595) 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.

2 days ago · Merz was born in the west German town of Brilon in 1955 into a prominent conservative, Catholic family. His father served as a local judge, as does Friedrich Merz's wife Charlotte to this day.

8 hours ago · He accused Merz of “constant about turns,” for instance on aspects of policy toward Ukraine and refugees from that country. Merz said Scholz and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck of the environmentalist Greens, who also is running for the top job, reminded him of “two managers who have driven the company into the wall, then go to the owners and say they’d like to carry …

9 hours ago · Mr. Merz and his party, the conservative Christian Democrats, endured two nervous weeks after he took a political gamble and broke a decades-old taboo by voting with rivals on the far right in a ...

1 day ago · Mr Merz is certainly serious about rekindling Germany’s long-missed European policymaking. Strengthening Europe’s voice is a Merz leitmotif, stretching from China policy to his support for ...

Jan 31, 2025 · In an effort to portray himself and his party as tough on immigration, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the poll-leading Christian Democrats, pushed a series of measures tightening borders and...

Feb 3, 2025 · 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...