Friedrich Merz (68) often polarizes. The CDU leader doesn't seem to be particularly well received by young women in particular. His wife, Charlotte Merz (63), with whom he has been married since 1981, describes an approachable man and grandfather in an interview with “Bild am Sonntag”. This could be a good idea before a possible candidacy for chancellor if the poll numbers don't necessarily speak for themselves.
When she met him at a university party, it was "love at first sight" for her, but with the politician "it took a little longer," says Charlotte Merz. However, they quickly became a couple, and the wedding and their first child together soon followed. "It was clear to us that we wanted to get married. We looked deeply into each other's eyes for a moment and then it was decided. We both wanted it," she remembers.
The love between the politician and the judge is still “just as intense” today. They "just like being together," says Charlotte Merz, who is herself a CDU member - even if they had to "adjust" after their three children left the house. She would therefore marry her husband again immediately and her seventh grandchild is due to be born in the summer. They were both looking forward to it and their grandchildren “adored” “Grandpa”.
The typical Sunday for the two? “My husband gets the rolls on his bike,” says Ms. Merz. Then we have a hearty breakfast, talk about the week and read the newspaper - it's "often the only day we can enjoy it together."
His wife does not want to speak directly about Merz's possible candidacy for chancellor. "Nice try. But I won't say anything about it," she says. She would also be “biased” about the question of whether he would be a good chancellor. However, many women recently did not see Merz as suitable. According to a Forsa analysis for “Stern” from March, a few weeks ago, 28 percent of men and 18 percent of women chose Merz in a direct election for Chancellor. For women between the ages of 18 and 29 it was only 9 percent, and for those between 30 and 45 it was 13 percent.
Even in the ZDF political barometer from the end of April, Merz only scored to a limited extent. When asked about likeability and performance (“What do you think?”), he comes in sixth place with a value of -0.6. Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is in fifth place with -0.5, Annalena Baerbock (Greens) is in fourth place with -0.4, Robert Habeck (Greens) is in third place with also -0.4. Silver currently goes to Markus Söder (CSU) with -0.3. The only politician with a positive score, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), is far ahead of everyone else with an average score of 1.8.
