Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz (German: [mɛɐts]; born 11 November 1955) is a German politician who has served as Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since January 2022 and led the CDU/CSU (Union) parliamentary group as well as been Leader of the Opposition in the Bundestag since February 2022.

2 days ago · Friedrich Merz, chancellor candidate and leader of the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU), at the Bundestag on January 29, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

2 days ago · BERLIN — Friedrich Merz, the conservative frontrunner to become Germany’s next chancellor, suffered a major political defeat on Friday as his controversial immigration bill backed by the far right was rejected in the Bundestag, with some members of his own party refusing to support the measure. Merz had earlier declared his willingness to push through the draft law to restrict migration ...

Deutschland braucht eine Politik, die uns wieder stolz sein lässt auf unser Land. Ihr Friedrich Merz. Am 11. November 1955 wurde ich in Brilon im Hochsauerlandkreis geboren.

Jan 26, 2025 · Seine Ankündigung sorgt seit Tagen für Diskussionen. Vier Wochen vor der Wahl will CDU-Kanzlerkandidat Merz mit Anträgen die Migrationspolitik verändern und eine striktere Sicherheitspolitik ...

6 days ago · Responding to the killing of a child, the poll-leading Christian Democrats are pushing to overhaul migration laws — possibly with votes from the Alternative for Germany.

As the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) and the conservative parliamentary group that includes Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU), he will be...

Nov 8, 2024 · CDU party leader Friedrich Merz is pushing for the election to be held as soon as possible. The CDU adopted a new manifesto in May 2024 after several years of consultations at a regional...

Sep 17, 2024 · Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrat Union (CDU), announced Tuesday that he will run as the conservative candidate for chancellor in Germany’s next federal election.

Sep 17, 2024 · BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s opposition center-right Christian Democratic Union announced Tuesday that it has chosen its leader, Friedrich Merz, to be its candidate for chancellor in next year’s national election. The decision sets the stage for a possible challenge of Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the federal election scheduled for September 2025.