GERMANY: Friedrich Merz, a man who has never been in government before, is now getting ready to lead Germany at a time when the country is facing serious economic and political challenges. Europe is also searching for new leaders as global tensions grow.

For Merz, 69, this is an unexpected comeback. Seven years ago, many believed his political career was over, and he seemed set to retire as a wealthy lobbyist and businessman. However, he has now made a strong return to politics.

Merz was mentored by Wolfgang Schaeuble, a respected finance minister known for his strict financial policies. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) and became its parliamentary leader in the 2000s.

Tall and deep-voiced, Merz first entered politics in 1989, winning a seat in the European Parliament. Coming from Sauerland, a conservative Catholic region in western Germany, he represented the traditional values of West Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He was pro-business, socially conservative, and strongly supported close ties with the U.S.

However, when Germany reunified in 1990, Angela Merkel, a Protestant from East Germany, entered politics. She outmaneuvered both Schaeuble and Merz, eventually becoming chancellor.

The eastern part of Germany remains a challenge for Merz. A recent poll showed that people in eastern Germany trust his rivals more than they trust him. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has gained popularity in the east, winning a regional election last year. This could make it harder for Merz to govern if he wins the election.

Merz was never the top choice of his party's advisors. He lost two attempts to become CDU leader in 2018 and 2021. But he did not give up, and in 2022, he finally won. His goal was to weaken the AfD by shifting the CDU further to the right. However, when he took office, the AfD had only 10% support, and now they have doubled that in recent elections.

In January, after two high-profile crimes involving immigrants, Merz pushed for stricter immigration laws. To pass the bill, he relied on support from the AfD, which many in his own party saw as a big mistake. The CDU had always refused to work with the AfD, and some now fear that Merz might form an alliance with them in the future.

Merz has been very effective in challenging the current chancellor, Olaf Scholz. In 2022, he visited Kyiv before Scholz did, making the chancellor look slow in supporting Ukraine. He also played a role in a legal case that led to budget cuts and weakened Scholz’s government. However, his stance on migration has created mistrust among other parties, which could make it difficult for him to form a coalition government.

Some CDU members believe Merz’s experience in business and international politics could make him a strong leader, especially if Donald Trump returns to power in the U.S. Merz has always supported helping Ukraine against Russia and has even suggested sending advanced missiles to Kyiv, something Scholz has refused to do.

His economic policies remain unclear, but he has shown openness to changing Germany’s strict debt rules, which have made it hard to increase military spending.

Merz comes from an older generation of politicians. Before returning to politics, he made a fortune working for BlackRock and even owns a private plane. Some of his policies seem reactive, like promising to cancel unemployment benefits and stricter citizenship rules introduced by Scholz’s government.

He once said that if politics ever harmed his marriage to his wife Charlotte, a judge, he would leave. “For me, that price would be too high,” he said. If he becomes chancellor, he will be the first leader in decades who is married with children and has never been divorced.

Merz has worked hard to build relationships with European leaders. Some European officials are eager for him to replace Scholz, who is seen as hesitant and divided on key issues. A European diplomat even described how excited France is about Merz possibly taking office.

Recently, at the Munich Security Conference, Merz met with European leaders, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. However, even if Merz wins the election, forming a government could take months. With Germany possibly having as many as seven political parties in parliament, long and difficult coalition talks are expected before Merz can officially take charge.