I, Claudia: Who is Friedrich Merz?

Who is Friedrich Merz, and why is the world watching Germany’s new chancellor? In this special monologue, Claudia Koestler, co-host of the Over Here, Over There podcast, dives into the dramatic rise, fall, and stunning comeback of Friedrich Merz. Discover his unique biography, from corporate lawyer to CDU leader, his years in political exile, and his return to power at age 69. Claudia unpacks the controversies, the coalition drama, and what Merz’s conservative, transatlantic vision means for Germany, Europe, and the world. Whether you’re a politics buff or just curious about global leadership, this episode brings you the insights and stories behind the headlines. Subscribe for more international perspectives!

Takeaways

• Friedrich Merz has a complex political history
• His rivalry with Angela Merkel shaped his career
• Merz's return marks a shift in CDU leadership
• He is perceived as arrogant and divisive
• His approach to the far-right is controversial
• Merz's policies may be more confrontational than his predecessor
• He faces challenges in a fragmented Bundestag
• Public perception of Merz is mixed and critical
• His leadership could impact transatlantic relations
• The future of German politics is uncertain under Merz

Please see this and other 'Over Here, Over There' episodes at www.overhereoverthere.org. Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and add to the discussion. Thank you!

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro music
• 0:15 Introduction to Friedrich Merz
• 1:42 The Political Rivalry with Angela Merkel
• 3:08 Return to Politics and Controversies
• 4:58 Implications for Germany and Europe
• 6:50 Outro

Transcript

Hello and welcome back to Over Here, Over There, your Podcast Across Borders. I am Claudia Koestler, and today I am going to give you a monologue of mine, a short one, about a political story that reads almost like a comeback novel, full of rivalry, disappearance, controversy, and, yes, a few quirks. Germany, my country of origin, has a new chancellor, called Friedrich Merz. But you might ask: Who is this guy? Someone who has even inspired memes comparing him to Dobby the House-elf from Harry Potter. But who is Merz, and what does his rise mean for Germany, Europe, and the world?

Let’s rewind to his beginnings. Born in 1955 in a small town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Merz trained as a lawyer and started his political career in the European Parliament in 1989, before moving to the Bundestag in 1994. Early on, he established himself as a conservative, business-oriented, and staunchly transatlantic figure- someone who believed in strong ties with the United States and free-market economics.

But Merz’s career has always been shadowed by his rivalry with Angela Merkel. In the early 2000s, after a party finance scandal rocked the CDU, Merz and Merkel were forced into a kind of shotgun partnership: she took over as party leader, he became head of the parliamentary group. It didn’t last. By 2002, Merkel had sidelined Merz, and their relationship soured for nearly two decades. Merkel herself has described their rivalry as a simple matter of both wanting to be the boss. Merz, unable to find a path forward, left politics in 2009 and spent nearly a decade in the private sector, including a stint with BlackRock and as a prominent corporate lawyer.

For years, Merz was a political ghost. He was seen as yesterday’s man, out of step with Merkel’s centrist, pragmatic style. But after Merkel’s retirement, the CDU turned to him as a kind of anti-Merkel: more conservative, more outspoken, and, some would say, more polarizing. He returned to the Bundestag in 2021 and took over the CDU leadership in 2022.

Now, about those controversies. Merz is often described as arrogant reputation he’s done little to dispel. Critics have pointed out that he lacks experience in government: he’s never been a federal minister, a state premier, or even a mayor. His style is direct, sometimes abrasive, and he’s been accused of failing to keep his own party in line. Yesterday, in a historic first, he failed to secure enough votes in the initial round of the chancellor election, exposing deep rifts in his coalition.

Merz’s approach to the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has been another flashpoint. He’s tried to draw a hard line, ruling out coalitions, but his rhetoric sometimes blurs boundaries, and critics say he hasn’t done enough to confront the party’s rise. This, combined with his corporate background and perceived aloofness, has made him a divisive figure, both within the CDU and among the German public.

So, what does Merz mean for Europe and the world? Expect a shift back to a more conservative, pro-business agenda, with a tougher stance on migration and a renewed emphasis on transatlantic relations. Unlike Olaf Scholz, who favored consensus and continuity, Merz is likely to pursue sharper, sometimes more confrontational policies, both domestically and internationally. His government will have to navigate a fragmented Bundestag, a skeptical public, and a continent facing war, economic uncertainty, and rising populism.

And yes, the Dobby comparison: Please look it up and see for yourself if you see the similarities. But even Merz seems aware of his image problem- he’s tried to soften his tone, but the perception of arrogance lingers.

In sum, Friedrich Merz’s election marks a turning point for Germany. He’s a chancellor with a long memory, a sharp tongue, and a lot to prove, not just to his party, but to a country and a continent in flux. Whether he can unite his coalition, win over skeptics, and deliver stability remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain: German politics just got a lot more interesting - and it certainly has me on the edge of my seat.