Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting?
He has strong odds of thrashing Olaf Scholz next year
TIME AND again the ambitions of Friedrich Merz to attain Germany’s top political job have been thwarted by events, by rivals—or by himself. Yet at last the chancellery looks within the grasp of the 68-year-old leader of Germany’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). On September 17th Mr Merz secured the backing of Markus Söder, the ambitious leader of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), for that job. The sister conservative parties agree on a joint chancellor-candidate at federal elections, an unusual process that has not always run smoothly. For Mr Merz’s supporters, Mr Söder’s quiet surrender one whole year before Germans go to the polls speaks to the evolution of their man’s political skills.
Aland is lovely, weapon-free and too close to Russia
Finland worries the demilitarised islands could fall prey in a conflict
Europe is bidding a steady farewell to passport-free travel
Germany is the latest Schengen country to reintroduce border checks
Can a new crew of European commissioners revive the continent?
Ursula von der Leyen picks her team
Near-shoring is turning eastern Europe into the new China
With firms moving production closer to market, CEE is the place to be
Ukraine is a booming market for Balkan arms makers
It’s not just gangsters buying Serbian and Bosnian ammo these days
Germany’s conservatives choose the country’s probable next leader
Friedrich Merz is in pole position to take over as chancellor at the election in 2025