Overview

• Friedrich Merz said he now drinks practically no alcohol since taking office.
• He described the chancellorship as occupying him about 16 hours a day and called himself a “piece of the inventory of the Federal Republic.”
• He noted he must always be reachable but tries to spend time with his wife on weekends, aiming to be at home at least one day to get fresh air.
• He said it would not have been a tragedy if he had not become chancellor, quipping he never needed “Chancellor” on his gravestone.
• The remarks were made at the Rheinische Post Ständehaus-Treff in Düsseldorf on September 29, with coverage noting he is 69 and roughly 147 days into his term.