Friedrich Merz is a prominent German politician and a key leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), one of Germany’s major political parties. Born on November 11, 1955, in Brilon, North Rhine-Westphalia, Friedrich Merz has built an influential career in both politics and business. As of February 24, 2025, he is preparing to become Germany’s next chancellor following the CDU’s victory in the federal election held on February 23, 2025.
Friedrich Merz : Early Political Life
Friedrich Merz’s political journey began early. In 1972, at the age of 17, he joined the Young Union (Junge Union), the youth wing of the CDU and its Bavarian ally, the Christian Social Union (CSU). The CDU is a center-right, Christian-democratic party and has historically been one of Germany’s two dominant political forces, alongside the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD).
After completing his law studies in 1985, Merz briefly worked as a judge and corporate lawyer before entering full-time politics in 1989. He was elected as a CDU representative in the European Parliament, where he served until 1994. He then transitioned to the German Bundestag (Federal Parliament).
Rise in the CDU
In the Bundestag, Merz quickly established himself as a financial policy expert within the CDU. In 2000, he was elected chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, making him a key leader at the federal level. The CSU, although a separate party, operates as the CDU’s Bavarian counterpart and shares a joint parliamentary group in the Bundestag.
During this period, Merz’s main rival was Angela Merkel, who became CDU chairwoman the same year. Their competition for party leadership led to significant internal struggles. After the 2002 federal election, Merkel took over the CDU/CSU parliamentary leadership, relegating Friedrich Merz to the role of deputy leader. Dissatisfied with this shift, Friedrich Merz resigned in 2004 and gradually withdrew from politics. In 2009, he left the Bundestag entirely to focus on his career in law and business.
Return to Politics and CDU Leadership
Friedrich Merz returned to politics in 2021, running for CDU leadership. After two unsuccessful attempts in 2018 and January 2021, he finally succeeded, officially taking over as CDU chairman on January 31, 2022, replacing Armin Laschet. Under his leadership, the CDU shifted further to the right compared to Merkel’s centrist governance from 2005 to 2021. Merz emphasized economic liberalism, stricter migration policies, and a stronger European defense strategy.
2025 Federal Election and Party Strategy
In September 2024, Merz was named the CDU/CSU alliance’s candidate for chancellor in the 2025 federal election, with support from CDU leader Hendrik Wüst and CSU leader Markus Söder. The election, held on February 23, 2025, saw the CDU/CSU alliance secure approximately 28.6% of the vote, making it the largest party in the Bundestag but falling short of an outright majority.
Germany’s political system is based on proportional representation, which usually necessitates coalition governments. The CDU/CSU’s potential coalition partners include:
