Germany’s Christian Democrats elect Friedrich Merz as new leader

Germany’s conservative Christian Democrat Union on Saturday elected Friedrich Merz as the party’s new leader.

Succeeding former Chancellor Angela Merkel, Merz won the vote with an overwhelming majority after gaining the support of 915 delegates out 983.

While 52 delegates of the Christian Democrats voted against Merz, 16 others abstained from voting.

In his speech at the online general assembly, Merz urged his party to be united.

He accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz of following a passive policy, saying that the people are worried about inflation and rising energy prices, but the government could not respond to them.

Merz has been a vocal critic of Merkel’s open-door policy for refugees and promised to make the CDU more conservative.