Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), remains confident about securing the position of Germany’s next chancellor in the upcoming election on February 23.
At the final party conference prior to the election, Merz projected assurance despite the political upheaval he caused in late January. This was when he attempted to pass a stringent immigration bill through parliament, aligning with the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD).
His actions sent shockwaves nationwide, with protesters denouncing the collaboration as an unprecedented breach of the long-standing post-war taboo against cooperating with the far-right.
Merz perceives this move as a calculated risk aimed at diminishing the success of the anti-immigration AfD.
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) bloc, has consistently maintained a strong lead in opinion polls at around 30%. This makes him the primary contender against Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).
Should he win the upcoming election on February 23, it would mark a remarkable comeback for Merz, who rejoined the Bundestag in 2021 following a 12-year break from politics.
At 69 years old, Merz would become the oldest chancellor since Konrad Adenauer, who became the first chancellor of the newly formed Federal Republic of Germany in 1949 at the age of 73.
Though both Scholz and Merz share a background in law, their similarities end there. Merz, with his commanding presence, stands out whether he is entering a room or addressing a crowd. In person, he is known to be approachable and humorous, although his tendency to lean down when speaking to people can sometimes create an awkward impression.
Source : DW
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