The day Germany’s new leader entered office will now forever be remembered for a very public failure. Friedrich Merz’s initial, shock defeat – in his bid to become chancellor – sparked hours of chaotic uncertainty. A man who’d been working to project strength and purpose instead became mired in political intrigue and division. Merz may…
Germany’s conservative leader has unexpectedly fallen short of the numbers needed to form a majority in parliament to become chancellor. Friedrich Merz needed 316 votes in the 630-seat Bundestag but only secured 310, in a significant blow to the Christian Democrat leader, two and a half months after winning Germany’s federal elections. His coalition with…
Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), signs the coalition contract between the CDU, the CDU’S Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the German Social Democrats (SPD) on May 05, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. Maja Hitij | Getty Images News | Getty Images Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday…
Friedrich Merz, Union candidate for chancellor and CDU federal chairman, joins the “Quadrell” TV round in the Bundestag election campaign. Michael Kappeler | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Friedrich Merz, migration hardliner and longtime rival of Angela Merkel, is expected to become Germany’s next chancellor. His party the Christian Democratic Union is leading polls alongside…
Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer says he will resign in the coming days, both as chancellor and party leader, after talks about forming a coalition government collapsed. The chancellor said his party – the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) – and the Social Democrats had failed to agree on key issues. The liberal Neos, another party involved…
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Finance Minister Christian Lindner in the Bundestag on June 26, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Michele Tantussi | Getty Images News | Getty Images Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday he had dismissed Finance Minister Christian Lindner, bringing an end to Germany’s ruling coalition after months of political wrangling and raising the…
