He caused a stir as CDU parliamentary leader in 2000 when he embraced the political slogan “Leitkultur,” a German word referring to the need for a dominant culture in the nation.
In February, Merz blasted Merkel’s latest coalition government deal with the Social Democrats as a “humiliation” for the CDU for accommodating too many of the junior partner’s policy goals.
He’s committed to the trans-Atlantic partnership, a factor that still counts for many in the CDU and could provide a bridge to the Trump administration.
“Friedrich Merz is probably one of the best connected Germans in Washington,” said Jan Kallmorgen, head of Berlin Global Advisers, a political-risk consultancy. That “could be helpful for Merkel’s international role,” despite their animosity, he said.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.