Friedrich Merz: Germany’s Chancellor Navigates Turbulent First Months

BERLIN, 17 January 2026 – Eight months after his historic and hard-fought election, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz leads Europe’s largest economy with a style starkly different from his predecessors. The 70-year-old conservative, who once languished in the political wilderness, now steers a fragile “grand coalition” while weathering a series of self-inflicted diplomatic and domestic storms. His tenure, defined by a pledge to break with the centrist past, has been marked by controversial remarks on migration, foreign policy, and even the cities Germany’s delegations visit.

From Political Exile to the Chancellery

Friedrich Merz’s path to power was anything but linear. A lawyer by training, he entered the Bundestag in 1994 and rose to lead the CDU/CSU parliamentary group by 2000, becoming a chief rival to a rising Angela Merkel. After she outmanoeuvred him, a bitter Merz left frontline politics in 2009 for a lucrative career in corporate law and finance, notably serving as chairman of BlackRock Germany.

His political comeback, launched in 2018, was seen by many as improbable. After two failed bids for the CDU leadership, he finally secured the party chair in January 2022, promising a decisive rightward turn after Merkel’s 16-year centrist reign. Positioning himself as the Union’s chancellor candidate, he led the CDU/CSU to a narrow plurality in the snap election of 23 February 2025. His subsequent election as chancellor on 6 May 2025 required two rounds of voting in the Bundestag—a first in German history—underscoring the fragility of the coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) that he now leads.

Key Facts at a Glance

The “Merz Doctrine”: A Conservative Reset

Chancellor Merz has articulated a foreign policy vision blending three pillars: a deepened commitment to European integration, a realist Atlanticism focused on managing relations with a Trump-led United States, and a more assertive defence of German national interests. He has been a vocal supporter of military aid for Ukraine, criticising his predecessor Olaf Scholz for hesitancy, and is a staunch defender of Israel’s security, which he describes as Germany’s “reason of state.”

Domestically, his platform promises a rightward shift. He advocates stricter immigration controls, a revival of nuclear energy—which he calls Germany’s phase-out a “grave strategic mistake”—and market-liberal economic reforms. His approach to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been fraught, however. While ruling out federal-level cooperation, his acceptance of AfD votes for a CDU migration bill in early 2025 sparked major protests and accusations of normalising extremist politics.

A Chancellor of Controversial Remarks

Merz’s blunt communication style has repeatedly landed him in hot water. In October 2025, he sparked nationwide protests and criticism from his own coalition partners after stating that irregular migrants were a “problem in the cityscape,” telling critics to “ask your daughters” about safety after dark. The SPD’s secretary-general accused him of divisive rhetoric that “destroys trust.”

On the international stage, a November 2025 visit to the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, ended acrimoniously. Merz told a Berlin audience his delegation was happy to return “from this place,” prompting a sharp rebuke from President Lula da Silva and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, who temporarily labelled him “a Nazi.” German officials later engaged in damage control.

Perhaps most consequentially, in June 2025, Merz sparked a diplomatic crisis with Iran and domestic outrage by stating that Israel was doing the “dirty work for all of us” by striking Iranian nuclear facilities. The comments, seen as endorsing a violation of international law, led Tehran to summon the German ambassador and triggered a petition calling for his accountability in Germany’s Federal Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Friedrich Merz become chancellor?

Merz led the CDU/CSU to a narrow victory in the snap federal election on 23 February 2025. After coalition talks with the SPD, he was elected chancellor by the Bundestag on 6 May 2025. His election was historic, requiring a second ballot after he initially failed to secure an absolute majority.

What are his main policy differences from Angela Merkel?

Merz explicitly positions himself as a break from Merkel’s centrism. He advocates for significantly stricter immigration policies, a return to more conservative social values, the retention of nuclear energy, and a more hawkish foreign policy stance, particularly regarding Russia and Ukraine.

Why is his relationship with the AfD so contentious?

While Merz vows not to cooperate with the AfD at the federal level, he has sent mixed signals. His decision to rely on AfD votes to pass a migration bill in early 2025 was seen by many as breaking a long-standing democratic “firewall” against the far-right, causing significant backlash within his own party and coalition.

What is the significance of his corporate background?

Merz’s years as a corporate lawyer and board member for firms like BlackRock have shaped his pro-business, economically liberal outlook. Supporters cite it as valuable real-world experience; critics argue it creates conflicts of interest and aligns him too closely with financial elites.