Merz's chances of winning the upcoming Bundestag elections on February 23 this year appear quite high, according to Politeka.net.
Friedrich Merz leads the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and, according to polls, has the support of 30% of voters, giving him an edge over the incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
In the 2000s, he was one of the leaders of the CDU, but after losing to Angela Merkel, he moved into business, where he made a name for himself. Many saw his return to politics in 2018 as an opportunity for change. However, for two consecutive years, he was unable to become the party leader. Only after the CDU's defeat in the 2021 elections did Merz finally become the head of the CDU, and now, following the parliamentary elections, he could become the new Chancellor of Germany, reports Politeka.
Merz advocates for liberal economic reforms, particularly simplifying the tax system and limiting immigration. Regarding the war in Ukraine, he sharply criticizes Olaf Scholz's policy on aiding Kyiv, accusing him of indecisiveness. Merz actively calls for the supply of modern weapons to Ukraine, specifically Taurus missiles, which can hit targets at significantly greater distances than other missiles currently available in Ukraine.
On December 9, Merz visited Kyiv, where he promised to continue supporting Ukraine and facilitate the creation of a new European alliance to assist Kyiv in its struggle against Russia. He also emphasized that peace in Ukraine is only possible if Russia stops attacking Ukrainian infrastructure.
Merz's support among voters is growing, and in the context of the political crisis in Germany, his candidacy appears to be one of the most promising.