

Germany: Friedrich Merz Elected New Chairman of Merkel’s CDU, Seeks Party’s Rebranding
It is unclear exactly how Merz will pivot from the CDU’s former centrism and remain distinct from rightist-populist competitor AfD.
It is unclear exactly how Merz will pivot from the CDU’s former centrism and remain distinct from rightist-populist competitor AfD.
“I tell everyone who is concerned, in the north and in the south, in the west and in the east, that we have ruled out this cooperation,” Merz said, adding that any form of collaboration or cooperation between members of his party and the AfD would lead to exclusion procedures.