Friedrich Merz, nemesis of former Chancellor Angela Merkel, is confident that he will win the upcoming election— despite his latest controversial moves siding with the far right on curbing irregular immigration.

Friedrich Merz, the favourite to become Germany's next chancellor, said on Monday that he is ready to lead the country as his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) assembled in Berlin for a party conference weeks ahead of national elections.

Friedrich Merz, the favourite to become Germany's next chancellor, said on Monday he is ready to "lead Germany forward" as his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) assembled in Berlin for a party conference three weeks before national elections.

Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Germany to protest against the CDU and AfD.

Protests have erupted across Germany in the wake of two contentious parliamentary votes on immigration, with marchers venting anger at the conservative bloc for breaking the taboo on collaborating with the far-right AfD.

Thousands of people protested in Berlin on Sunday against plans to limit immigration proposed by opposition conservatives and supported by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Friedrich Merz,