Friedrich Merz: Sunburn while caring for the lawn - experience politics up close!

Friedrich Merz: Sunburn while caring for the lawn - experience politics up close!

It was a sunny day when Friedrich Merz appeared at a campaign appearance in Ludwigshafen. The CDU chairman and incumbent Federal Chancellor, who has only been in office since May 6, 2025, caused a stir with a sunburn. As he chatted with local constituents, it became apparent that lawn care is also important not just for gardens, but also for politics. “I can assure you, we care about taking care of the country,” remarked Merz with a wink, cleverly linking his sunburn to the political weather in Germany.

Friedrich Merz, now 69 years old, has had a long political career marked by setbacks. He has been nominated as the Union's candidate for chancellor for the early federal elections next year and is determined to lead the CDU back to the top. “People want to be governed decently,” he emphasizes. In doing so, he relies on a clear demarcation from the policies of his predecessor Angela Merkel, from whom a power struggle previously separated him. Merz, who has led the CDU since 2022, wants to sharpen the party's conservative profile and is focusing on tougher migration policies.

Merz's political path

His political career began in the European Parliament in 1989, and he soon became a leading financial politician in Germany. Merz has always advocated economic liberalism, including in his book “Dare More Capitalism”. Despite his impressive credentials, including a law degree in Bonn and time as a judge, Merz has had periods of absence from the political stage. He used this time, among other things, on the supervisory boards of large companies, including Blackrock. In 2018 he returned to politics and soon found himself in a competition for party leadership with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Armin Laschet.

Since his election as CDU leader, Merz has tried to reposition the party. Particularly in the international arena, he is an advocate of a strong EU and NATO and calls for an increase in defense spending. But his strict migration policy and rejection of issues such as the legalization of cannabis or citizens' money make him not only a sought-after politician, but also a controversial actor.

The reactions from the population

The surveys show that the CDU is clearly on the rise under Merz, and many voters appreciate his economic competence. However, his impulsive reactions, for example through thoughtless statements about migration, also lead to critical voices. In particular, his positions on asylum policy and the ideas of permanently controlling all borders cause a heated debate.

Merz, who lives with his wife Charlotte and their three children in North Rhine-Westphalia, follows a clear political line. His family and the ongoing voluntary activities through their own foundation testify to a committed private life, which he consciously integrates into the political context. With such a complex person, the challenges are certainly not small, but Friedrich Merz seems to be well prepared with his proven political instincts.

So it remains to be hoped that lawn care will bear fruit not only politically but also electorally for Merz in the coming weeks. Because in the end, the most important thing for him is to convince voters of his vision for Germany.

You can find more information about Friedrich Merz in the following articles: Rhine Palatinate, star, Wikipedia.