Friedrich Merz, currently leading in polls to become German chancellor, said Thursday if elected he will impose strict border controls.

The conservative leader wants to impose strict border controls after knife killings in Aschaffenburg this week.

Friedrich Merz and his conservatives view Angela Merkel’s legacy as a liability in their battle with the far right.

The country's upcoming vote could determine the future of its struggling economy and Europe's political stability

Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), firmly rejected any cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in an interview with public broadcaster ARD on Friday evening.

Friedrich Merz, the conservative frontrunner to replace Chancellor Olaf Scholz after Germany's upcoming elections, is calling on the European Union to present a united front in response to US President-elect Donald Trump.

Tucking into beer and pretzels, the frontrunner to become Germany's next chancellor, conservative millionaire Friedrich Merz, is showing off his folksy side.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has darkened the mood in Germany a month before elections, as multiple crises shake the foundations on which Europes

However, some Germans blame the CDU, and in particular Merz's predecessor and longtime chancellor Angela Merkel, for encouraging the large-scale influx of asylum seekers and migrants, mostly from the Middle East and Afghanistan, in 2015.

Mr Merz argued the need “to negotiate with the American side from a position of strength”. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become chancellor after Germany’s snap election next month, will take his campaign pitch to the World Economic Forum next week.

Conservative leader Merz, front-runner to become next German chancellor, proposes EU-US energy and defense deals to establish constructive relationship with US President Trump - Anadolu Ajansı