Friedrich Merz poised to lead Germany as elections approach

Germany will hold elections on February 23, 2025. Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is currently favored to become the next Chancellor. His party leads in polls, while the current Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats are in third place. Merz has faced criticism from former Chancellor Angela Merkel for collaborating with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) on immigration policy. He insists he does not support the AfD and aims to control borders and return undocumented migrants. Merz has also expressed a commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russia and plans to increase defense spending. While no party is expected to secure an outright majority, Merz is likely to lead coalition negotiations to form the next government.