At the same time, Ms Merkel announced she would not stand in federal elections due this autumn. Mr Merz is a social and fiscal conservative who believes in low taxes and a smaller state. He has criticised Ms Merkel over her backing of an EU-wide coronavirus recovery fund. Mr Laschet or Mr Röttgen could be expected to follow in that tradition, as Europe confronts the global challenges posed by Covid, the climate emergency and migration. Mr Merz presents himself as a moderniser prepared to shake up the cosy pieties of the political centre.

Source: The Guardian January 10, 2021 18:22 UTC