Friedrich Merz leads polls as Germany prepares for chancellor election

Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is the favorite to become Germany's next chancellor in the upcoming election on February 23. Polls show his conservative bloc leading with 29%, ahead of the far-right AfD at 21% and Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats at 16%. Merz, a former investment lawyer and trained pilot, has a long political history but faced setbacks against Angela Merkel. He returned to the CDU in 2018 and became the party's candidate for chancellor in 2022 after a leadership win. His campaign focuses on tougher immigration policies and reversing marijuana legalization. While he has gained support, concerns remain about his rhetoric and the need for a stable governing coalition if elected.