Friedrich Merz looks set to become Germany’s next Chancellor (Image: Getty)
German nationals are heading to the ballots on February 23, with the country’s current Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, down in opinion polls.
The leader’s centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are trailing in third place, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of his party in second.
In the lead, polls currently suggest, is the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) bloc, led by Friedrich Merz. He is the favourite to become Chancellor.
Mr Merz is Chairman of the CDU – Germany’s center-right party. It was headed for 18 years, from 2000 until 2018, by Angela Merkel.
Merz is ahead of Scholz in the polls, suggesting he’s the frontrunner to become Germany’s Chancellor (Image: Getty)
Friedrich Merz’s stance on migration
In January, Ms Merkel criticised her successor for passing a motion in parliament with the support of the AfD.
The former Chancellor accused Mr Merz of going back on his previous pledge to not work with the far-right in the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament.
AfD votes meant that a non-binding CDU motion on tougher immigration rules was passed.
Mr Merz claimed that the policy was not wrong just because the « wrong people back it ». He also said that he had not sought nor wanted the support of the far-right.
Speaking to CNN earlier this month after the CDU’s convention, Mr Merz said he would “control borders and return those who are coming without documents » if he were elected.
The AfD is second in Germany’s pre-election polls (Image: Getty)
Will Friedrich Merz’s party work with the AfD?
Despite his tougher stance on immigration than Ms Merkel, who famously adopted an « open-door » policy in 2015, Mr Merz has emphasised that he would not work with the AfD should he be appointed Chancellor.
This is because « they are against… everything we are, what we build up in the Federal Republic of Germany », he told CNN.
He added: « There is no co-operation with this party. »
In a speech earlier this month, the CDU leader said: “We will not work with the Alternative für Deutschland – not before [the election], not after – never. »
The AfD « stands against everything that our country and our party built in the last years and decades”, he added.
“It is our most important opponent in this election campaign. We want to make it small, we want to make it a footnote.”
Friedrich Merz and Angela Merkel used to be rivals (Image: Getty)
Friedrich Merz’s rivalry with centrist Angela Merkel
In the early 2000s, Ms Merkel and Mr Merz were rivals in the race to lead their party. After the former came out on top, her challenger quit frontline politics for many years.
Now, he has returned, and it looks as though he will take on the office held previously by Ms Merkel for 16 years.
While Ms Merkel is seen by experts as more of a pragmatic centrist, Mr Merz is seen as more traditional and conservative.
In the past, he criticised Ms Merkel’s record in power, such as her handling of migration.
Friedrich Merz’s position on Russia and the war in Ukraine
Mr Merz has expressed support for Ukraine as the country attempts to fend off Vladimir Putin‘s invasion nearly three years after it began.
In light of his recent meeting with US Vice President JD Vance, the German politician said they had agreed the Ukraine war must « end as soon as possible ».
He added that he had told Mr Vance that there was a need for « close coordination between America and Europe ».
Mr Merz has also said that he would handle the conflict differently from Mr Scholz, detailing that his intent « remains to deliver, within a European coordinated framework, more weapons to Ukraine« .
He also wants to spend more on defence, and, in relation to Ukraine becoming a member of NATO, added: « There is an agreement within NATO that Ukraine gets the perspective of becoming a member.
Mr Merz also said: « I don’t agree with anybody who is putting NATO membership off the table. »
Merz has met with US Vice President JD Vance (Image: Getty)
Will Friedrich Merz become the next Chancellor of Germany?
Polling suggests that Mr Merz’s party is the frontrunner.
Although, no group is set to win an outright majority, as the country uses a proportional representation electoral system to avoid handing too much power to a single politician.
This means coalition negotiations will likely be key when politicians go about shaping Germany’s next Government.
Yet, Mr Merz is likely to come out on top of the talks and be eventually appointed Chancellor.
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