Conservative leader’s gambit to weaken the postwar ‘firewall’ may be a boon for the AfD ahead of a national election.

The German Christian Democrats' candidate for chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is campaigning for a rapid and tangible change in policy at the start of the hot election campaign phase. "We are ready to lead Germany forward again,

The sweat was dripping off Friedrich Merz after the frontrunner to become Germany’s next chancellor saw his bid to outflank an ascendant far right spectacularly backfire in the Bundestag.

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.