Friedrich Merz, Union candidate for Chancellor and Chairman of the Federal CDU, joins the television round of “Quadrell” in the Bundestag election campaign.
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Friedrich Merz, Hardliner migration and longtime rival of Angela Merkel, will become another German chancellor. His Christian Party Democratic Union leads surveys next to his Christian Social Union partner a few days before the election.
In September, Merz was elected as a designated candidate of the CDU for Chancellor in this year's federal electionsIN After managing the organization and at the head of the opposition Parliamentary Group of CDU-CSU from 2022.
Between politics and business
Before entering politics, 69 -year -old Merz, he studied law and first worked as a judge, and then as a lawyer at Mayer Brown LLP. He also held higher positions in various main corporations, including Blackrock Germany and HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt, as well as serving in the boards of EY EY German, Borussia Dortmund and Deutsche Börse.
Merz is married to three children. He apparently It has two aircraft that he pilotes in his free time.
Merz says that he joined the CDU when he was still at school, ultimately running the local branch of the party's youth organization. In 1989 he took the role of a member of the European Parliament for a five -year term before joining Germany for 15 years.
A significant part of Merz's political career at the beginning of 2000 was marked by the competition with Angea Merkel, and two are fighting for managerial positions in CDU, as well as the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Merz first became the chairman, and then the deputy head of the latter group after 2000.
Resigned from this position in 2004 Observers At that time, suggesting that it was caused by Merkel's growth in the ranks.
Angela Merkel and Friedrich Merz in 2001.
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Tensions between Merkel and Merz Linger to this day, with the former German Chancellor last month criticism CDU leader in cooperation with the far -right alternative Fuer Deutschland on parliamentary voices.
Political positions
Merz, like CDU, follows the positions of central policy and is perceived as a socially conservative, pro-business politician.
Merz has recommended In order to reduce taxes on income and corporations, along with a limitation of bureaucratic bureaucracy to increase companies and innovation and adapt frame conditions for industry in Germany to increase private investments. He also shared his goal that Germany would become more attractive for startups and said that he would create a new ministerial role to focus on digitization and artificial intelligence.
The CDU leader also indicated that he would potentially be open to the reform of a highly questioned Germany Debt brake The rule that limits how much debt can take, and limits the federal government budget deficit.
Merz very much criticizes economic policy under Olaf Scholz, which suggests that they are the cause of the fall of the country and calling for large changes.
This attitude covered criticism The economic policy focuses too much on climate change, which, according to Merz, will change. While he generally recognizes the climate crisis as a problem, Merz was skeptical about some actions taken in this, for example by building wind turbines.
On the front of foreign policy, Merz suggested During the last weekend security conference in Munich, Germany should take a stronger managerial position in Europe and found that the war in Ukraine must soon end, while indication that he would be open to further supply of weapons to a tired country.
Merz, however, widely avoided questions about the plans of German DefensSExpenses for a debate on whether NATO members should increase their funds in this area.
Immigration is the political problem that led Merz in hot water. He has recommended In the case of increased security measures, increased deportations and control of shaper boundaries, criticizing the current asylum and migration policy in Germany for too relaxed and slow movement attacks carried out in the country by people deported.
Situation He came to his head In January, when the non-binding movement led by Merz, he was supported by AfD-BO for the first time in the post-war history of Germany that most were achieved with the help of the extreme right.