Germany, Friedrich Merz

Can Friedrich Merz still fix Germany?
The frontrunner to become chancellor has bold plans for economic reform, but a flirtation with the far-right has hurt his campaign
Germany's Merz faces backlash after vote
Last week, the CDU broke the mainstream parties' so-called firewall of noncooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, as it relied on votes from AfD members in Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, to pass a nonbinding vote on tougher border and asylum rules.
Germany: CDU leader Friedrich Merz says his party will 'never' work with far-right
The centre-right CDU has been accused of breaking 'taboo' by putting forward a motion to the Bundestag for a stricter migration policy which was backed by the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD).
Germany's Merz tells DW that AfD 'wants to destroy the CDU'
Germany's conservative chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz explicitly distanced himself and his party from the far-right AfD, after sparking outrage over his cooperation with the AfD last week.
Front-runner in German election says his party will 'never' work with the far right
The front-runner in Germany’s upcoming election says the far-right Alternative for Germany is his “most important opponent” and his party will “never” work with it
Conservative Merz vows to 'lead Germany forward' at party conference
Friedrich Merz, the favourite to become Germany's next chancellor, said on Monday he is ready to "lead Germany forward" as his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) assembled in Berlin for a party conference three weeks before national elections.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz wants the chancellery
Friedrich Merz, nemesis of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, is confident that he will win the upcoming election — despite his latest controversial moves siding with the far right on curbing irregular immigration.
Germany's Merz tells party to 'stay course' after protests against far-right vote
Germany's election frontrunner Friedrich Merz on Monday called on his conservative CDU to "stay the course" after mass protests against its acceptance of far-right AfD support for calls to restrict immigration.
German conservatives fall in poll ahead of election
Support for Germany's conservative bloc fell by 2 percentage points to 28% within a week, a survey showed on Tuesday after ...
Politico Europe2d
German far right may benefit most from Merz’s self-inflicted wound
Conservative leader’s gambit to weaken the postwar ‘firewall’ may be a boon for the AfD ahead of a national election.
Frontrunner for German Chancellor vows stricter immigration policies – but says he won’t work with the far-right
As Germany enters the final few weeks of its election campaign, the man poised to be the next chancellor has doubled down on ...
Germany’s Merz Promises to Limit Migration and Restore Growth
Friedrich Merz, the conservative frontrunner in the German election, vowed to hold course on his disputed plan to limit ...
Politico Europe19h
German election poll: Merz’s far-right gambit costs conservatives
The first major survey of voters after frontrunner Friedrich Merz’s controversial alignment with the far right suggests the gambit failed.
What next in the fight against the far-right Alternative for Germany?
The Christian Democrats have vividly demonstrated that they will not be dissuaded from embracing the Alternative for Germany ...
Tens of thousands protest in Berlin against proposed German immigration crackdown
Thousands of people protested in Berlin on Sunday against plans to limit immigration proposed by opposition conservatives and ...
Politico Europe3d
Merz’s far-right gamble backfires
Favorite to be next German chancellor loses bid to use AfD support to push through immigration law, after days of turmoil ...