Years after a political clash with Angela Merkel that saw him sidelined for nearly two decades, Friedrich Merz, now 69, is on the brink of a dramatic political comeback.
As leader of Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Merz is positioning himself to return the party to power after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic government fell to a no-confidence vote on Monday. Snap elections are now scheduled for February 23, and Merz’s CDU enjoys a commanding lead in the polls.
Merz’s rise represents a stark contrast to Merkel’s leadership style. While Merkel, an understated East German physicist, defined her tenure with pragmatism and modesty, Merz exudes the confidence of a wealthy West German businessman.
Married to his childhood sweetheart Charlotte, a judge, Merz is a father of three, a grandfather, and a devout Catholic. His image—complete with private jets and corporate success—marks a sharp departure from Merkel’s more humble public persona.
The animosity between the two political figures has long been a defining element of Merz’s career. Once seen as Merkel’s strongest rival within the CDU, Merz gained prominence after his election to parliament in 1994, where he became a leading voice on economic and legal issues.
However, Merkel, reportedly viewing him as a political “enemy,” ousted him from the party leadership in 2002, paving her path to the chancellorship. Forced to the margins, Merz left politics in 2009 and amassed significant wealth as an investment banker before his return in 2021. He reclaimed leadership of the CDU in 2022, coinciding with Merkel’s retirement.
Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Merz has been vocal in his unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defense, aligning himself with the broader CDU stance. He has pledged to crack down on violent and antisemitic demonstrations in Berlin, calling for stricter enforcement and harsher penalties for offenders.
Last month, during a parliamentary session marking the one-year anniversary of the attack, Merz delivered a blistering critique of Scholz’s government, accusing it of hypocrisy. He criticized Germany’s failure to supply Israel with weapons and spare parts without imposing restrictive conditions, despite claiming solidarity with the Jewish state.
“Germany’s relationship with Israel is unique—without any ifs or buts,” Merz has declared. While he supports a two-state solution, he insists it must be contingent on Palestinian recognition of Israel’s right to exist. With the CDU surging in the polls, Merz’s approach to Israel and his promises of decisive leadership have placed him in prime position to lead Germany’s next government.
* Ynet contributed to this article.
