Friedrich Merz is poised to lead the CDU toward the 2025 federal election, emphasizing discipline and a shift in citizen income policies. While maintaining traditional party values, he faces challenges from past controversial remarks and a male-dominated leadership style. As he seeks to solidify his legacy and return the party to its conservative roots, questions about gender equity and collaboration with coalition partners linger, alongside concerns about his inexperience in cabinet roles.
Looking Ahead to the Federal Election 2025
Friedrich Merz, a seasoned figure in politics, is determined to ascend to the role of CDU Chancellor. With high expectations set for himself, his team, and the electorate, his ambitions are clear.
Journalists eagerly inquire, ‘Are you heading out already, Mr. Merz?’ in a hotel bar in Hamburg during early January. The CDU leadership is gathered for their annual kickoff retreat, and Merz has arrived late from a series of interviews.
Just over an hour later, around 11 PM, he departs the meeting, burdened with a vast amount of documents to review. While other party officials, including state premiers, enjoy another drink, Merz prioritizes his responsibilities, demonstrating that for him, duty always takes precedence over leisure.
The term ‘virtuous’ may seem outdated, but it aptly describes Merz’s approach. His team is well aware that punctuality is non-negotiable; meetings commence promptly regardless of attendance, and tardiness is met with his disapproval.
Merz’s Call for Discipline
Despite the modern exterior of the Konrad-Adenauer-Haus, which sports a fresh turquoise and blue palette instead of the former Merkel orange, the atmosphere within the CDU remains quite traditional. Few are permitted to address Merz informally; even close associates maintain a formal address.
Merz’s expectations extend to his constituents as well. He has made it clear that the CDU intends to overhaul citizen income after the upcoming election, emphasizing a campaign message that discourages rewarding inaction. His stance is clear: those who are able to work should do so.
Voters should brace themselves for uncomfortable realities, as Merz frequently asserts. In light of economic challenges, the focus shifts from working less to working harder.
Merz’s leadership style reflects his call for discipline. Since taking charge of the Bundestag faction, meetings often conclude ahead of schedule, avoiding the lengthy discussions that characterized his predecessor Ralph Brinkhaus’s tenure. Controversial topics are resolved beforehand, with Merz leading decisively, a characteristic noted by senior members of the faction.
During a CSU winter retreat, Merz continues to assert his position, particularly distancing himself from the Greens.
Challenges and Controversies
An incident from the summer of 2023 highlights the challenges Merz faces. He made several rhetorical missteps, including referring to children from migration backgrounds as ‘little pashas’ and labeling Ukrainian refugees’ presence as ‘social tourism.’
While he issued apologies, dissatisfaction within the CDU grew over time, with concerns that his communication style occasionally veered toward populism.
When North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst remarked in a guest column that the CDU’s heart beats in the center, many interpreted it as a critique of Merz, which seemed to push him to demand unity in the faction. He encouraged open communication for those with grievances.
Merz has since expressed regret for his choice of words regarding ‘social tourism.’
Merz’s Political Journey and Future Aspirations
As the prospect of leading the government looms, questions arise within the Union about how Merz’s leadership will translate to a cabinet setting, especially as it may include members from outside his party.
Despite his extensive political career, Merz lacks experience in government offices, having never held a cabinet position. His political journey has taken him through various roles, including membership in the Young Union, the European Parliament, and eventually becoming the chairman of the Bundestag faction.
Merz embodies a classic CDU profile: a North Rhine-Westphalia native, lawyer, Catholic, married, and a father of three. However, his trajectory shifted in the early 2000s when Angela Merkel, an unexpected leader for the CDU, took charge, leading Merz to retreat from politics for a time.
He re-entered the scene only after Merkel announced her departure, ultimately becoming party chairman on his third attempt, overcoming defeats to Merkel’s allies along the way.
Merz’s current candidacy for chancellorship represents a significant milestone, allowing him the opportunity to solidify his legacy, even as he rarely acknowledges Merkel in public. Under his leadership, the CDU appears to be returning to its conservative roots, refocusing on liberal economic policies and adopting a firmer stance on immigration.
While Merz initially hesitated to prioritize migration as a key issue, recent statements suggest a shift in that stance.
The Gender Dynamics in Merz’s CDU
The CDU under Merz is notably more male-dominated, with figures like Carsten Linnemann, Thorsten Frei, and Jens Spahn emerging as prominent representatives alongside the party leader. While women within the Union note that he does not obstruct their progress, there is little evidence to suggest that he actively promotes their advancement.
The question remains whether he will prioritize gender equity in his appointments, shaping the future dynamics of the CDU.