Friedrich Merz, the leading candidate to become Germany’s next chancellor following the elections on Sunday, is a conservative entrepreneur with no prior experience in government ministry. He faced expulsion from the leadership of his party in the past due to his opposition to Angela Merkel.

As a member of the Christian Democratic Union and a dedicated trans-Atlantic supporter, Merz is perceived as potentially more compatible with President Trump than the current Social Democratic chancellor, Olaf Scholz. His anticipated approach to foreign policy is expected to align more closely with Trump’s views on Europe taking on greater responsibility for its own defense.

However, challenges arise with statements made by Trump and Vice President JD Vance, revealing the complexities of forming a reliable partnership with a United States that may seem increasingly unpredictable and possibly antagonistic, particularly regarding Russia’s stance on Ukraine and its sphere of influence.

This situation presents significant challenges for Germany, and the responsibility is likely to fall on the 69-year-old Merz after the elections. He is recognized for his assertive and straightforward demeanor, though sometimes he can appear a bit uncomfortable in political discourse.

Merz has vocally opposed Trump’s recent remarks that appeared to favor Russia, as well as Vance’s comments that were interpreted as meddling in Germany’s electoral process. During the Munich Security Conference, Vance criticized European nations for marginalizing far-right parties, a stance that did not sit well with Merz.

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