Friedrich Merz: Germany's Christian Democratic Union leader who flirted with far right

The leader of the Christian Democratic Union is now in pole position to become Germany's next chancellor.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersFriedrich Merz: Risk-taker who flirted with far right5 hours agoJessica ParkerBBC Berlin correspondentBBCFriedrich Merz - leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) - is set to become Germany's next Chancellor.

His party is projected to win around 28% of the vote. The question now is who he might form a coalition with.

Described by his supporters as an antidote to Europe's crisis of confidence, Merz, 69, is a familiar face to his party's old guard.

Politically, he has never come across as exhilarating. And yet he promises to provide Germany with stronger leadership and tackle many of his country's problems within four years.

As election results came in on Sunday evening, he grabbed attention by declaring that the US appeared indifferent to Europe's fate and questioned the future of Nato, demanding that Europe boost its own defences.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxnzkyw7n1o

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