Friedrich Merz, a man with no prior government experience, is now poised to lead Germany at a time when the country is battling with its toughest economic and diplomatic challenges in decades. Europe is also urgently seeking new leaders to guide it through growing tensions with the United States.

Merz's conservative party secured the top spot in Germany's national election on Sunday, outpacing their closest competitor, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), giving him the mandate to form a coalition government.

"Germany will be governed reliably again," Merz told supporters after the results were announced.

This win marks an unexpected return for the 69-year-old, who just seven years ago was seen as a failed politician ready to move on to a career as a wealthy lobbyist and board member of multiple companies.

A former protege of the late Wolfgang Schaeuble, a key figure in German fiscal conservatism, Merz quickly climbed the ranks of his Christian Democratic Party, eventually becoming its parliamentary leader in the 2000s.

About Friedrich Merz

Friedrich Merz, a tall, deep-voiced conservative, was a perfect fit for Germany's conservative party in 1989. He came from the socially conservative Sauerland region, representing pre-reunification West Germany's pro-business and transatlantic values.

However, after reunification in 1990, Angela Merkel, from East Germany, rose to power, pushing Merz aside. Merz still struggles with trust in the east, where the far-right AfD is gaining support.

Although Merz became party leader in 2022, he failed to curb the AfD’s rise. He pushed for stricter migration laws, even working with the AfD to pass them, angering many in his party. His handling of this issue has raised doubts about his ability to form necessary coalitions and led to concerns that he might work with the AfD if it helps him become Chancellor.

Some of Merz's critics acknowledge his strong Atlanticism, great English, and skills developed in business, making him a strong candidate for the Trump era. He was an early supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia and has said he’d consider sending high-end missiles to Ukraine, something Chancellor Scholz has blocked.

On fiscal policy, Merz is open to reforming debt limits that hindered Scholz's government and military spending, though his policies are not clearly defined. He’s seen as a traditional figure who left politics for a successful career at Blackrock, which made him wealthy enough to own a plane.

Much of his agenda is reactive, such as reversing policies on unemployment benefits, citizenship rules, and border control introduced by Scholz's coalition. He has said he would quit politics if it threatened his 40-year marriage.

If Merz becomes chancellor, he would be the first to have children and the first not divorced since Helmut Kohl. He’s worked hard to build relationships with European leaders and was well-received at the Munich Security Conference, where he met leaders like U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and China’s Foreign Minister.

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