Friedrich Merz
Friedrich Merz (born 11 November 1955) is a German lawyer and politician. He is the Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 2022. He was a Member of the European Parliament 1989 to 1994, a member of the Bundestag from 1994 to 2009, and as the chairman of CDU/CSU parliamentary group from 2000 to 2002.
Friedrich Merz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Merz in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Christian Democratic Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 31 January 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Secretary | Mario Czaja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Silvia Breher Andreas Jung Michael Kretschmer Carsten Linnemann Karin Prien | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Armin Laschet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 15 February 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chancellor | Olaf Scholz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Ralph Brinkhaus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 29 February 2000 – 22 September 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chancellor | Gerhard Schröder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Wolfgang Schäuble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Angela Merkel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the CDU/CSU group in the Bundestag | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 15 February 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Deputy | Alexander Dobrindt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Whip | Thorsten Frei | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Ralph Brinkhaus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 29 February 2000 – 22 September 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Deputy | Michael Glos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Whip | Hans-Peter Repnik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Wolfgang Schäuble | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Angela Merkel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz 11 November 1955 Brilon, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Christian Democratic Union (1972–) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Charlotte Merz (m. 1981) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Arnsberg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | University of Bonn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
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| Signature |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Official website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service |  Bundeswehr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1975–1976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit |  German Army (Heer) / Self-propelled artillery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 2018 he announced his candidacy in the CDU leadership election in December 2018.[1] He lost the election to Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. In February 2020, he announced his second candidacy for the party's 2021 leadership election.[2] He lost the race on 16 January 2021 after losing to Armin Laschet in the second round.
In March 2020, Merz was tested positive for COVID-19 during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.[3]
On 15 November 2021, Merz announced his candidacy in the second 2021 CDU leadership election to replace Armin Laschet.[4][5] He ran against Norbert Röttgen and Helge Braun.[6] On 17 December 2021, he was elected leader in a landslide victory.[7]
References
change- ↑ Berlin, Kommentar von Stefan Braun (2018). "Die große Zeitenwende ist eine Chance für die CDU". sueddeutsche.de (in German). ISSN 0174-4917. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
- ↑ Berlin, Berliner Morgenpost- (2020-02-25). "Friedrich Merz kandidiert - und schießt gegen Laschet und Spahn". www.morgenpost.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-02-26.
- ↑ Welt.de: Friedrich Merz mit Coronavirus infiziert, March 17, 2020
- ↑ "Race to lead Angela Merkel's party in German opposition takes shape". Business Standard. November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ↑ Geir Moulson (November 12, 2021). "Race to lead Angela Merkel's party in German opposition takes shape". AP News. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ↑ "Germany's CDU ready to elect new leader to succeed Armin Laschet". Business Standard. November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ↑ "CDU: Friedrich Merz wird neuer Parteichef". Der Spiegel (in German). 2021-12-17. ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
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