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2h ago

Merz Marks 70th as Chancellor With Reichstag Reception and Flag Gift

Fresh polling around the milestone signals weak public support for him as the Union’s future candidate.

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Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (CDU) fährt mit seiner Regierung keine guten Umfrage-Ergebnisse ein.

Overview

  • He became the first sitting German chancellor to turn 70 since Konrad Adenauer and is currently the oldest leader among the EU’s 27 governments.
  • Merz framed the day as a normal workday, saying he is fit and healthy and focused on the job.
  • The CDU/CSU faction hosted about 300 guests in the Reichstag, including SPD and Green parliamentary leaders and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, while Angela Merkel sent greetings from an Israel trip.
  • The Union caucus presented him with an original Germany flag from the Reichstag with Bundestag President Julia Klöckner’s approval, purchasing a replacement for the building.
  • An RTL/ntv Trendbarometer by Forsa found only 18% favor him running again, 73% prefer another Union candidate, and many respondents voiced a preference for a younger leader.