Is Merz the saviour of Germany's CDU?

The new leader of Germany's political opposition has made a strong start. Can he keep it up?

This week Ralph Brinkhaus suffered a humiliation that Friedrich Merz knows only too well.

He had to watch as Merz was voted by CDU MdBs to take over from him as their leader in the Bundestag. With his victory over Brinkhaus, (who admitted defeat weeks ago, allowing his opponent to win the vote uncontested) Merz has taken an unrivaled role in the party as…