Who is Friedrich Merz, the man on course to take Germany's top job after election?
Friedrich Merz is on course to become post-World War II Germany’s 10th chancellor, the culmination of a yearslong political career that was once sidelined by his party’s iconic leader
Read more at ABC News
Topics
-
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 - 11h -
Germany election: far right surge is ‘last warning’, says Friedrich Merz
Leader of victorious conservative alliance says centrist parties must work together to provide effective leadership. German election live – latest updates The doubling of support for the far ...The Guardian - 2h -
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 - 4d -
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. German election – latest updates Friedrich ...The Guardian - 23h -
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 - 1d -
German Election 2025: Friedrich Merz Appears Poised to Be Next Chancellor
The Christian Democrat, who appeared to have a path to a stable governing coalition, hopes to lead Europe’s response to President Trump’s reshuffling of alliances.The New York Times - 10h -
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 - 6h -
Friedrich Merz: Risk-taker who flirted with far right
The leader of the Christian Democratic Union is now in pole position to become Germany's next chancellor.BBC News - 7h -
The Man Who Broke Germany’s Government Wants a Chance to Fix It
Christian Lindner triggered early elections last fall with a move meant to save his party. It brought chaos at an inopportune time. But will it work out?The New York Times - 3d -
Cometh the hour, cometh eventually Friedrich Merz
Expectations of Germany’s next chancellor are already sky-high but coalition talks will be toughFinancial Times - 18h -
Germany’s watershed election
Domestic and international tensions as well as economic stagnation hang over Sunday’s Bundestag voteFinancial Times - 2d -
The Meaning of Germany’s Election
We examine the role of immigration in the outcome.The New York Times - 5h -
Germany's conservatives aim sharp words at Washington after beating far right in elections
Germany woke Monday after an election in which the center-right conservatives won the most votes but far-right nationalists surged to huge gains causing dismay.NBC News - 5h -
Merz Appears Poised to Be Germany’s Next Chancellor
Exit polls suggest that Friedrich Merz, the candidate for the conservative Christian Democrats who has vowed to bring stronger leadership in Europe, will be Germany’s next leader. The hard-right ...The New York Times - 7h -
Hezbollah chief who was killed days after taking up post laid to rest in south Lebanon hometown
The late leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group who was killed in an Israeli airstrike days after he took the post was laid to rest in his southern hometownABC News - 42m -
Germany Election 2025: What to Watch For
What Germans decide in national elections that are likely to produce a new chancellor will be of critical importance as Europe re-evaluates relations with the Trump administration.The New York Times - 1d -
5 Takeaways From Germany’s Election
Friedrich Merz and his party won, Elon Musk didn’t seem to move voters, and more lessons from an early German vote with big implications for Europe.The New York Times - 3h -
Who's who in German elections and why this vote is important
German voters go to the polls on Sunday in a pivotal vote focused on immigration, security and the economy.BBC News - 2d -
Germany’s Merz says Europe can no longer rely on US protection
Frontrunner for chancellor suggests possible nuclear co-operation with the UK and FranceFinancial Times - 2d -
Germany: Merz says it’s ‘five to midnight’ for Europe and calls for unity – live
Most likely next German chancellor warns against rise of far right and says he intends to form new government by Easter. German election 2025: results in full Guten Morgen aus Berlin, . In ...The Guardian - 2h -
The Latest: Polls open in Germany in crucial general election
German voters are heading to the polls for a national electionABC News - 1d -
Costumed revellers vote in Germany as election and Carnival coincide
Yahoo News - 1d -
Germany Election Votes Are Cast. What Happens Now?
The country appears headed for a coalition government. But the process of building one could take months.The New York Times - 19h -
Germany’s election winner pledges ‘independence from US’
Friedrich Merz says the Trump administration is ‘largely indifferent’ to Europe’s fateFinancial Times - 10h -
Five takeaways from Germany’s historic election — in charts
Non-voters and young people turned out for the AfD and far left, depriving the CDU of an enthusiastic mandateFinancial Times - 6h -
Germany’s election leaves its industrial champions dangling
The deciding vote on where valuations go next will be cast on the other side of the AtlanticFinancial Times - 1h -
'Hard choices are necessary' - Man Utd to cut up to 200 more jobs
After 250 members of staff were made redundant last year, Manchester United announce up to 200 more redundancies to "return the club to profitability".BBC News - 21m -
Trump fires nation’s top-ranking military officer in latest job cuts
President Donald Trump fired the nation’s top-ranking military officer, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr. It’s the first of many more job cuts expected with thousands of ...NBC News - 2d -
Debt and defence headache for Merz after AfD and far left make gains
Election winner could struggle to reform strict borrowing rules due to opposition in next parliamentFinancial Times - 11h -
Man stabbed at Berlin’s Holocaust memorial days before crucial election
German police have arrested a suspect after attack on Spanish tourist and say they have not yet found a motive. German police have arrested a man suspected in a stabbing attack at Berlin’s ...The Guardian - 2d -
Katya Adler: Far right looks for breakthrough in Germany's election
The AfD party could become the second biggest in the German parliament after elections on Sunday.BBC News - 3d -
Polls point to Germany's looming election bringing a shift to the right
While polling suggests Germany's far-right AfD party will fare well, it's very unlikely to be part of the next government of Europe's biggest economy.CBS News - 2d -
LGBTQ+ community in Germany rally against rise of far right ahead of elections
Community grapples with fear over ‘proliferation and normalisation of anti-queer and anti-trans sentiment in politics and the media’. They poured on to streets across Germany by the thousands, ...The Guardian - 2d -
Final push for votes in Germany election as frontrunner vows to lead in Europe
Germany's rival political leaders take their fight for votes right to the last minute before a pivotal election.BBC News - 2d -
Immigration and an ailing economy dominate Germany’s election as far right eyes gains
The world’s third largest economy goes to the polls Sunday under the shadow of unusually brusque interventions from the Trump administration in support of the anti-immigration far-right.NBC News - 2d -
Shocked by Trump, Europe Turns Its Hopes to Germany’s Election
Germany’s economy is stalled and its politics fractured. But it sees an opening for a new chancellor to lead Europe’s response to a changing America.The New York Times - 1d -
Conservatives win Germany election as far-right sees strong showing
Exit polls show the center-right Christian Democratic Union party leading, with the AfD party heading towards the strongest showing of the far-right since World War II.CBS News - 20h -
How Germany's far-right party gained ground during elections
Mainstream conservatives won Germany's national election. This comes as the AfD, the country's far-right party, gained momentum among voters. CBS News' Holly Williams reports.CBS News - 3h -
How TikTok Helped Germany’s Left to a Surprise Election Showing
Struggling a month ago, the far-left Die Linke party surged into Parliament by riding a backlash against conservative immigration policy.The New York Times - 1h
More from ABC News
-
French authorities detained 4 people after a deadly stabbing linked to Islamic extremism
French anti-terrorism authorities say four people are in custody after a deadly stabbing in eastern France that authorities linked to Islamic radicalismABC News - 1d -
Here's why Chinese warships near Australia and New Zealand have prompted alarm
An unusual series of military exercises by Chinese warships in the sea between Australia and New Zealand has prompted reproval from leaders in both countries about the amount of warning givenABC News - 6h -
The biggest takeaways from Germany's election, which will bring change to the EU's leading power
Germany faces its second change of leader in less than four years after the head of the center-right opposition won Sunday’s electionABC News - 3h -
Japan's emperor marks 65th birthday with a call to keep telling the tragedy of WWII
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, marking his 65th birthday, stressed the importance to keep telling the tragedy of the World War II to younger generations, pledging to contribute to the effort to promote ...ABC News - 1d -
AP PHOTOS: Ukrainian soldiers who returned to the battlefield after amputation
Many Ukrainian brigades have at least one, often several, amputee soldiers still on active duty, who chose to return to combat driven by the sense of responsibility amid the grim outlook for their ...ABC News - 1d
More in World
-
As Trump Courts Putin, China’s Leader Xi Emphasizes Close Ties With Russia
The Chinese and Russian leaders reaffirmed their relationship in a video call on Monday, an apparent rebuff to the idea that the Trump administration could drive a wedge between them.The New York Times - 11m -
Federal workers sue over Elon Musk’s threat to fire them if they don’t explain their accomplishments – live
Attorneys for federal workers say Elon Musk violated the law with his weekend demand that employees explain their accomplishments or risk being fired. Musk demand for federal workers document ...The Guardian - 23m -
‘We hope we can finish war this year’, says Zelenskyy as UN holds meeting on Ukraine – live
Ukraine president addresses leaders of G7 countries on third anniversary of war as UN meets in New York. The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas earlier said that she would be travelling to the US ...The Guardian - 32m -
Israel refuses entry to EU lawmaker accused of promoting boycotts of the country
Israel says it denied entry to European Union lawmaker Rima Hassan, accusing her of promoting boycotts of the countryABC News - 34m -
Trump Appointees Fire Hundreds at U.S.A.I.D. Working on Urgent Aid
The firings added to doubts about whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the agency’s acting head, supports lifesaving humanitarian assistance, as he has said he does.The New York Times - 38m