Merkel's longtime rival Merz is Germany's new leader in waiting

Berlin

GERMANY has a new leader in waiting. Friedrich Merz, longtime Christian Democratic Union (CDU) rival to Chancellor Angela Merkel, is moving into pole position as her most probable replacement, with strong support from German industrialists disillusioned with the mainstream politicians at the helm of the country's lacklustre "grand coalition" with the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

In a forceful and detailed speech to the CDU economic council in Berlin last week, calling for an Agenda 2030 to restore German economic health, Mr Merz signalled his political resurrection, six months after being narrowly outvoted from becoming party leader and Mrs Merkel's political heir.