Friedrich Merz is a German conservative politician who has led the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since January 2022 and has been the Leader of the Opposition in the Bundestag since February 2022. In September 2024, he became the CDU/CSU's candidate for Chancellor ahead of the 2025 federal election, with projections indicating he will assume the role. Born in Brilon, Merz joined the Young Union in 1972 and pursued a legal career before entering politics in 1989 as a European Parliament member, later establishing himself as a financial policy expert in the Bundestag. A former rival of Angela Merkel, he withdrew from politics in 2009, focusing on his legal career, corporate roles, and serving on the board of BlackRock Germany, before returning in 2021. Known for his pro-business, transatlantic, and EU-integrationist views, he advocates economic liberalism, a stronger European military, and NATO cooperation while maintaining a critical stance on Trump-era U.S. policies.