Twenty years before Friedrich Merz’s return to politics and his successful bid for the German chancellorship, he had an intriguing encounter. Invited to a gathering of the French Foreign Legion in Corsica, the event’s organizers made an unusual request for him to arrive via parachute at the last minute. Despite his lack of experience with skydiving, Mrz didn’t hesitate and took the leap, though it was somewhat rough upon landing.
Now at the age of 69, Merz is stepping into his most challenging role yet – becoming Germany’s 10th chancellor amidst a multitude of domestic crises since the reunification of Germany. His first day in office on Tuesday will mark a significant turning point as he takes over at a time when the nation faces an array of predicaments including a stagnating economy and strained ties with the US.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/world/europe/friedrich-merz-germany.html
