Friedrich Merz, the 69-year-old veteran German politician with a hardline stance on migration and an expensive aviation hobby, is the favorite to become the country’s next chancellor in the February 23 federal election.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply rejected comments made by US Vice President JD Vance in support of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and insisted there should be no outside interference in the German election campaign.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his likely successor, Friedrich Merz, promised no collaboration with the extreme right on Tuesday in speeches to parliament before national elections on February 23.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz used his likely final statement in parliament before the election to intensify his attacks on Friedrich Merz, accusing the conservative frontrunner of dividing Europe for political gain and saying his “fickleness and bluster” make him unsuitable to run the country.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his conservative rival Friedrich Merz exchanged blows on Tuesday as lawmakers convened for a fiery final parliamentary session before national elections on February 23.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz insists he would 'never' cooperate with the far right in the way he says his rival Friedrich Merz has done. Meanwhile, Merz said working with the AfD was out of the question.