Who to lead Germany and what to change
In February, Germany will hold snap elections, almost certainly resulting in a new government and a new chancellor. It's nearly guaranteed that Olaf Scholz will be replaced as chancellor by Friedrich Merz, the leader of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
In Ukraine, Merz is primarily known for his sharp criticism of the German government for insufficient support for Kyiv following Russia's full-scale invasion.
But will his policies shift once he takes office? Especially given that Donald Trump is expected to return to the White House almost simultaneously.
Read more to understand who Friedrich Merz is and whether he will maintain his decisive stance on Ukraine in the article by Khrystyna Bondarieva, a European Pravda journalist – Merz will come, order will follow? What we know about the politician likely to become Germany’s next chancellor.
If Friedrich Merz becomes chancellor, he would be a highly atypical leader for Germany.
Merz is a millionaire who refers to himself as a "representative of the middle class," an amateur pilot who enjoys flying his own twin-engine plane (and once even piloted a fighter jet).
For a country whose chancellors usually have a modest lifestyle, this profile is highly unusual, often requiring Merz to explain his way of life.
Merz is entirely unlike the previous long-serving CDU chancellor, Angela Merkel.
He has not risen to the top through personal popularity. Quite the opposite – Germans don’t particularly like Merz.
His personal approval rating is significantly lower than that of the CDU, which has gained ground primarily due to the weaknesses of Scholz’s three-party coalition.
Merz’s low popularity is partly attributed to his personality.
He is blunt and impulsive, often making statements in the heat of the moment for which he later has to apologise. This starkly contrasts with the unemotional and composed Olaf Scholz and the ever-poised Angela Merkel.
Another issue for Merz is his wealth and how he positions himself as a representative of the "upper middle class."
This has angered many Germans, who see him as out of touch with reality. They argue that middle-class representatives are far from flaunting their wealth by flying their own planes.
Merz counters his critics by saying that he identifies with the middle class in terms of "life values."
In economic matters, Friedrich Merz has promised policies to "propel Germany forward and make the country function again."
Germany’s economy is currently stagnating and is expected to face new challenges with Donald Trump’s return to power in the US.
Merz intends to adhere to the so-called debt brake, disagreements over which caused major conflicts in the previous coalition. He believes that with the right economic and fiscal approach, increasing debt to finance economic recovery or defence is unnecessary.
His stance may evolve though.
He also advocates for simplifying the tax system and lowering taxes.
As for the Russo-Ukraine war, Merz promises that the CDU will firmly support Ukraine, as this is a "war against the West and democracy." He openly emphasises the need for Ukraine to win – a contrast to Scholz, who has never explicitly stated this.
In Merz’s view, Ukraine can endure and end the war only from a position of strength.