Friedrich Merz’s 25-Year Wait for German Chancellorship Is Almost Over

CDU leader is the clear front-runner ahead of snap elections
Long campaign could be a risk for temper-prone conservative

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By Arne Delfs

November 7, 2024 at 5:00 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Friedrich Merz has waited 25 years to become German chancellor and his best chance is now just months away.

The head of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union is the clear front-runner to lead Europe’s largest economy after Olaf Scholz pulled the plug on his coalition and called for early elections. The center-right party is well-ahead in the polls, with almost double the support of Scholz’s Social Democrats.