Who is Friedrich Merz, the conservative leader who won the elections in Germany and how he can form government without the extreme right of the AFD

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Merz On Monday he received “full support and support” of his political formation to try to create a “great coalition” with the SPD.

“I am determined to hold quick and constructive conversations with the social democrats to form a coalition government (…) before Easter,” that is, April 20, he declared Mezr from the headquarters of the CDU in Berlin.

He added that 20.8% obtained by the ultra -rightist Alternative for Germany (AFD)which placed it in second place, was the “last notice” for the main parties of the country.

The EFE agency indicated that the preliminary contacts were prepared in advance and Merz spoke Monday with the co -presidents of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken, and with Scholz will do so in the next few days.

Mezr He argued that contacts will focus on three major issues: foreign and security policy (with Ukraine in focus), irregular migration and the economy.

For his part, Klingbeil said Monday that His training is open to establish conversations with Merzbut stressed that the ball is now on the roof of the democratian leader.

“The world is turbulent and decisions do not expect. We see what the new US government does or stops doing and we do not know what decisions can be raised in Germany in the next few days in relation to Ukraine. German politics has the task of doing Europe in this historical phase ”said Cleverat a press conference.

This is what you should know about the future Chancellor of Germany.

Who is Friedrich Merz?

Friedrich Merz He was born in Brilon, west of Germanyon November 11, 1955, within a conservative Catholic family. His father was a judge of the town.

He joined the CDU When I was still at school. In 1972 I entered the Cristianodemocrata youth (Ju).

After finishing the school he did the military service and between 1976 and 1982 He studied law as a fellow of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

In 1981 he married Charlotte Gasswith whom he has three children.

Between 1989 and 1994 was MEP And then he went to the Federal Parliament, where he was between 1994 and 2009 when, due to differences with the then chancellor and president of the CDU, Angela Merkelhe abandoned the policy temporarily.

The fight with Merkel

The medium The Conversation He recalled that at the beginning of the 2000s, after Merkel became leader of the CDUhe dismissed a Merz from her position as a parliamentary leader of the party and assumed the position.

Merkel He never appointed A. Merz minister. In 2009, he decided not to appear again to Parliament to devote himself to his interests in the private sector as a lawyer and as a member of the Board of Directors of a company.

Merz criticized Merkel’s decision to displace the CDU Towards the center and said that it worried that it opened space for the AFD to move, he indicated The Conversation.

After his return to politics, Merz became a party leader in 2022 and gave the CDU A much more conservative vision.

The internal gross product (GDP) of Germany

He closed in red numbers in 2023 and 2024, adding two years of contraction, something that was not seen since the end of World War II.

The economy, its relationship with Trump and the war in Ukraine

Economic, Merz It is a liberal that advocates deregulation and tax cuts to boost the growth of Germany.

As to USAsent a note written by hand Donald Trump to congratulate him for his choice and highlighted his “leadership.” However, Sunday Merz promised to “achieve independence” of the US and acknowledged that Trump is “to a large extent indifferent” to the destination of Europe.

Merz It is proEuropean and has said that narrower European cooperation is a fundamental part of Europe’s response to Trump.

The international analyst Enrique Banús He said to Commerce what Merz He is a pragmatic with a lot of experience in the business world.

“It has an important challenge in the international context, and also inward, because the economy is very bad in Germanyand the theme of migration It is also yet to be resolved “Banús scored.

“As to USAHe is a man of an Atlantic orientation, as they say in Germany, with positive relations towards that country. Trump has congratulated the Germans for the good result of the elections. In these elections, Trump’s men have supported the AFD. Merz He was not the ideal candidate for Washington, but he is closer to his political spectrum than the current chancellor Scholz. In that sense, I think it will be easier for a certain influence in the United States, ” Banús remarked.

The analyst stressed that Merz’s party clearly supports Ukraine Already its president Volodymyr Zelenskymuch more clearly than Scholz, which has been hesitant.

The CDU He agrees to offer Ukraine the armament he needs to resist Russian invasion, including Taurus cruise missiles.

The AFD voting record

After the elections, the ultra -right party Alternative for Germany (AFD) It is stronger than ever when getting 20.5 % of votes, doubling its result of the previous elections and obtaining its best performance since its foundation in 2013.

Despite this, conservatives have reiterated their refusal to negotiate any type of pact with the AFD.

Why your ascent? Banús stressed that the AFD became strong in ancient German Democratic Republic (RDA) or East Germany, where it got 35% of votes.

“He has favored him high participation in the elections, of more than 83%. They have been able to mobilize people who did not usually vote ”Banús said.

“The high vote of the AFD is a sign of discontent, that in crisis situations like the one that people are going through people opt for populist options,” he added.

“It has a lot to do with the perception that traditional parties governments are not able to solve the country’s major problems; That is the challenge you now have Merz demonstrate that this is not the case, because if you do not get it, they will continue to upload populist options, which promise easy solutions for complex issues, ”he emphasized.