Who Is Germany’s New Chancellor Friedrich Merz?

Germany has witnessed a seismic shift in its political sphere following the results of the 2025 national elections. Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), emerged victorious, replacing Chancellor Olaf Scholz in what is being hailed as a major political upset. Merz’s coalition, comprising CDU and its Bavarian ally, the Christian Social Union (CSU), secured the largest vote share, marking a significant triumph for Germany’s centre-right bloc.

In the latest round of elections, the CDU/CSU alliance garnered between 28.5 per cent and 29 per cent of the vote, surpassing Scholz’s centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), which faced a historic defeat, with just 16-16.5 per cent of the vote share. 

Merz’s success has also outpaced the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which came in second with 19.5-20 per cent of the vote, a record high for the anti-immigration party. Despite this, the AfD will not be part of the next government due to their isolation in the political spectrum, as coalition partners have refused to cooperate with them.

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Following his victory, Merz wasted no time in calling for the swift formation of a new government, emphasising the urgency of addressing global challenges. “The world out there is not waiting for us,” he said, urging a rapid conclusion to coalition talks.

Scholz, acknowledging his party’s loss, expressed regret over the election outcome and took responsibility for the results, offering Merz a congratulatory message in the process. Scholz’s SPD suffered a severe setback, recording its worst result in post-war German history.

Merz and his diverse career

Born on November 11, 1955, in Brilon, Germany, Merz is no stranger to politics, yet his rise to the top has been anything but typical. A trained lawyer, corporate attorney, and multimillionaire, he has experienced a diverse career, navigating the worlds of law, business, and military service.

He hails from a family steeped in legal tradition as his father was a judge and a member of the CDU. After studying law at the University of Bonn and the University of Marburg, he began a career in law and the judiciary. Merz served in the German Army before entering the world of corporate law, where he worked as an in-house attorney at the German Chemical Industry Association.

His political journey began in 1989 when he became a member of the CDU and entered the European Parliament. He quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the CDU's parliamentary leader in 2000. However, following a political power struggle with Angela Merkel in the mid-2000s, Merz found himself sidelined and took a step back from active politics.

For the next decade, Merz focused on his career in corporate law and as a prominent advocate for transatlantic relations through his leadership of Atlantik-Brücke, a lobby promoting ties between Germany and the United States.

Return to politics

Merz’s return to the political stage began in earnest when Angela Merkel announced her departure from the CDU leadership in 2018. Although he lost a tight race to Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer for the party’s leadership, Merz remained a key figure within the CDU. In 2020, his bid for party leadership was again unsuccessful, with the party instead opting for Armin Laschet as their candidate for Chancellor.

However, Merz’s persistence paid off in 2022 when, after several failed attempts, he was elected leader of the CDU. The party, reeling from losses in the 2021 election, looked to Merz to restore its former glory and navigate the party beyond Merkel’s long-standing leadership.

Merz’s leadership has been marked by a return to the CDU’s conservative roots, with a focus on strong national security, economic growth, and scepticism toward unchecked immigration. As Germany moves into the 2025 election cycle, his leadership has positioned the CDU/CSU as the dominant force in the country’s political landscape.

Now, as Germany’s incoming Chancellor, Merz faces the tough task of building a coalition government while also addressing pressing issues like climate change, the future of Europe, and the growing influence of the far-right. While his victory is being celebrated by his supporters, particularly for the revival of the CDU’s fortunes, it is also a reflection of broader shifts within Germany’s political landscape.