Who is Friedrich Merz and what’s in his in-tray?
Former banker almost certain to be Germany’s next chancellor faces testing domestic political and economic landscape – and then there’s Donald Trump
Friedrich Merz, a former banker who has never been a government minister, appears almost certain to be the next chancellor of Germany after his conservative CDU/CSU alliance won the most votes in Sunday’s crucial federal election.
During the campaign his decision to win a vote in parliament by relying on far-right support proved a historic and highly controversial turning point, even if he has since insisted he would never break Germany’s “firewall” (“brandmauer”) by going into coalition government with the anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland.
Continue reading...
Read more at The Guardian
-
Who is Friedrich Merz, the favorite to become Germany's new chancellor?
Friedrich Merz, who is poised to become Germany's chancellor in a CDU-led government, has extensive experience as a lawyer and working with major corporations.CNBC - 3d -
Who Is Friedrich Merz, the Man Poised to Be Germany’s Next Chancellor?
Friedrich Merz, head of the conservative Christian Democrats, has vowed to bring stronger leadership to Europe, where the new Trump administration has sowed anxiety.The New York Times - 5h -
Friedrich Merz German elections
Whether he can form a strong coalition remains to be seen, but whatever he does will be an essential part of Europe’s response to President Trump’s reshuffling of alliances.The New York Times - 12h -
Cometh the hour, cometh eventually Friedrich Merz
Expectations of Germany’s next chancellor are already sky-high but coalition talks will be toughFinancial Times - 12h -
German election as it happened: Friedrich Merz set to become chancellor
Christian Democrats secure under 30 per cent of vote, while far-right AfD comes in historic second placeFinancial Times - 19h -
FirstFT: Germany’s Friedrich Merz pledges ‘independence from US’
Also in today’s newsletter, staff revolt at FTI and Apple’s DEI and OpenAI initiatives under fireFinancial Times - 32m -
Hawks' Trae Young has a bone to pick with referees who 'take s--- personally,' but he dug his own hole
Young's Hawks lost to Orlando on Thursday and he didn't like the way the whistle blewCBS Sports - 3d -
What 11 Black Voters Think About Trump’s Actions in His First Month
Many Black Americans were frustrated by the Trump administration’s targeting of D.E.I. programs. But others embraced the speed at which he moved.The New York Times - 2d -
2025 MLS season preview: 7 teams (and players) to care about, who and what's new, predictions and more
From new stars and bold signings to rising contenders and looming questions, we break down everything you need to know ahead of the 2025 MLS season.Yahoo Sports - 3d
More from The Guardian
-
Germany elections live: AfD’s Weidel says she received congratulations from Elon Musk after significant far-right gains
Conservative opposition wins most votes in Germany election amid dramatic surge by far-right Alternative für Deutschland . German election 2025: results in full Guten Morgen aus Berlin, . In ...The Guardian - 15m -
UN ‘gravely concerned by rising violence’ in West Bank; Gaza ceasefire in doubt as first phase nears end – Middle East crisis live
Israeli tanks in West Bank for first time in more than two decades amid tensions over ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Volker Turk , the UN high commissioner for human rights, has been speaking at ...The Guardian - 28m -
Foreign leaders in Kyiv to mark anniversary of war as Zelenskyy hails ‘three years of resistance’ – Ukraine war live
Ukraine president pays tribute to ‘absolute heroism’ of Ukrainians as EU leaders arrive in Kyiv. The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas earlier said that she would be travelling to the US tomorrow to ...The Guardian - 15m -
More than 150,000 Canadians sign petition to revoke Musk’s citizenship
Parliamentary petition launched due to billionaire’s link to Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to conquer Canada. More than 150,000 people from Canada have signed a parliamentary petition ...The Guardian - 3h -
Trump administration eliminating 2,000 USAid positions in US, notice says
All but handful of agency’s personnel around world to be placed on paid leave, according to notice sent to workers. The Trump administration on Sunday said it was placing all but a handful of USAid ...The Guardian - 10h
More in World
-
Foreign leaders in Kyiv to mark anniversary of war as Zelenskyy hails ‘three years of resistance’ – Ukraine war live
Ukraine president pays tribute to ‘absolute heroism’ of Ukrainians as EU leaders arrive in Kyiv. The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas earlier said that she would be travelling to the US tomorrow to ...The Guardian - 15m -
Germany elections live: AfD’s Weidel says she received congratulations from Elon Musk after significant far-right gains
Conservative opposition wins most votes in Germany election amid dramatic surge by far-right Alternative für Deutschland . German election 2025: results in full Guten Morgen aus Berlin, . In ...The Guardian - 15m -
Germany has swung to the right. What does that mean for the country – and Europe? Our panel responds
Friedrich Merz’s CDU/CSU may have won the German election, but all eyes are on the far-right AfD after its huge gains Continue reading...The Guardian - 15m -
UN chief Guterres says human rights are being suffocated by autocrats and warmongers
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres says human rights are being “suffocated” around the worldABC News - 27m -
UN ‘gravely concerned by rising violence’ in West Bank; Gaza ceasefire in doubt as first phase nears end – Middle East crisis live
Israeli tanks in West Bank for first time in more than two decades amid tensions over ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Volker Turk , the UN high commissioner for human rights, has been speaking at ...The Guardian - 28m