Friedrich Merz, the Christian Democratic Union candidate for chancellor, speaks at a campaign event in Stromberg, Germany, on Friday. (Thomas Frey/DPA/AP) BERLIN — Angst (a German word ...

Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become Germany’s next leader, is “highly concerned” about recent developments in the United States under Donald Trump’s second presidency. The German chancellor ...

Standing ovations with slow, rhythmic applause are the order of the day at each campaign appearance of CDU leader Friedrich Merz. The lanky, bespectacled lawyer will turn 70 in November.