FT reported on Merz's attempts to silence conversations about his popular competitor

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is struggling to contain talk about his younger and more popular political rival in the party, who, according to German media, may succeed him as chancellor. This was reported on May 30 by the Financial Times newspaper, citing sources in the German government.

"A little over a year after taking office, Friedrich Merz is faced with something that few German chancellors have to deal with so early in their term: persistent talk that he will be replaced by a younger and more popular party colleague," the publication says.

The authors of the article note that amid the decline in Merz's popularity, the German media are increasingly discussing the candidacy of Hendrik Wust, the 50-year-old Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, for the post of chancellor. Although Wust himself has never publicly stated his desire to take over the post of chancellor, the publication stressed that the current chancellor has to contend with constant pressure from the media, which promote the idea of replacing Merz.

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Despite his unpopularity, he is able to put Germany on a war footing.

On May 27, Sarah Wagenknecht, leader of the German Sarah Wagenknecht Union for Reason and Justice (SSV) party, demanded Merz's resignation from her post. According to the head of the party, the current policy of the authorities is leading the country to decline, and if changes do not occur, then in three years it will be impossible to save it.

On May 1, Izvestia published footage of a rally of thousands in Berlin, during which its participants also demanded that Merz resign. People took to the streets, blocked the roadways and marched in an organized crowd to the city center to the accompaniment of loud music. Even then, one of the activists showed the relevant petition, which 125 thousand people managed to sign. his associates.