“And if the head of a district authority or a mayor is voted in who belongs to the AfD, then of course you find ways to continue to work in that town.”
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Figure timeline
Friedrich Merz
Joachim-Friedrich Martin Josef Merz is a German politician who has served as Chancellor of Germany since 6 May 2025. He has also served as Leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since January 2022, leading the CDU/CSU (Union) parliamentary group as Leader of the Opposition in the Bundestag from February 2022 to May 2025.
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politics · Chancellor of Germany since 2025 · politician · Gerichtsassessor · lobbyist · manager · jurist · lawyer · judge · also Friedrich Merz, Merz
Born 11 November 1955 · Q566257
104 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 41 entries
“must go from being a sleeping middle power to becoming a leading middle power again”
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“We need to have discussions with both the British and the French—the two European nuclear powers—about whether nuclear sharing, or at least nuclear security from the U.K. and France, could also apply to us”
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“government will provide the Bundeswehr with all the financial resources it needs to become the strongest conventional army in Europe”
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“Quietly I just said to myself,”
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- #quote
Mshale: NATO Chief Mark Rutte Holds News Conference Alongside German Chancellor Merz Alice And Steve (guJTswdgds)
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- #headline
Mshale: PM Modi And German Chancellor Friedrich Merz At The International Kite Festival In Ahmedabad Luigi Suigo (Axb4gSjKPF)
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- #headline
safariindia.com: Emirates Welcomes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Aboard A380 at ILA Berlin Opening
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- #headline
L'Orient Today: German Chancellor Merz condemns Ben-Gvir's remarks
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- #headline
Mshale: Ganz YouTube Lacht: Dieter Nuhr Zerlegt Friedrich Merz – CDU Reagiert Empört Aaoi Stock (iePWj8oOFZ)
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- #headline
Haaretz: Germany's Merz condemns Ben-Gvir as his allies say sanctions 'long overdue'
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- #headline
Free Malaysia Today: Germany’s Merz condemns far-right Israeli minister’s Gaza remarks
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- #headline
Anadolu Ajansı: Germany’s Merz ‘strongly condemns’ Israeli minister’s call for daily killings in Gaza
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- #headline
news.cgtn.com: Germany's Merz condemns far-right Israeli minister's Gaza remarks: Spokesman
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- #headline
bluewin.ch: Merz is staying home for the holidays—despite the largest wildfire in North Rhine-Westphalia since 1991.
- #news
- #headline
تسنیم: Chancellor Merz still Least Liked National Politician for Germans: Poll
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- #headline
dw.com: Why is Chancellor Merz so unpopular — and is it fair?
- #news
- #headline
NDTV: PM Modi, German Chancellor Merz Visit Sabarmati Ashram As Strategic Talks Begin
- #news
- #headline
The Times of India: Germany’s Climate Divide: Drought Crisis Exposes Growing Rift In Merz Government
- #news
- #headline
Vietnam.vn: El incierto futuro político del canciller alemán Friedrich Merz
- #news
- #headline
facebook.com: DW News. . With wildfires raging and river levels at historic lows, Social Democrats in Chancellor Merz’s government are saying Germany should include a commitment to climate adaptations in its Basic Law – or constitution. There is support for the plan, but n
- #news
- #headline
BGNES: German Chancellor Merz’s Approval Rating Hits Record Low
- #news
- #headline
AnewZ: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz under pressure as support falls and AfD gains ground
- #news
- #headline
EADaily: The ruling coalition of Germany recognized Merz's inability to govern the country
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- #headline
La Razon.cl: El partido del canciller aleman, Friedrich Merz, se hunde hasta un nuevo antirécord
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- #headline
Modern Diplomacy: Germany’s Intelligence Independence: Why Russia and China Are Watching Merz’s BND and BfV Expansion
- #news
- #headline
gaceta.es: Los conservadores alemanes de la CDU/CSU de Friedrich Merz se desploman en las encuestas a su aprobación más...
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- #headline
“RT by @ _FriedrichMerz : In vielen Teilen des Landes wüten Waldbrände. Ich werde über die Entwicklung laufend unterrichtet. Wo immer möglich, leisten Bundespolizei und Bundeswehr Hilfe. Ich danke allen Einsatzkräften für ihren unermüdlichen und oft bis zur Erschöpfung reichenden Einsatz. --- https:// nitter.net/bundeskanzler/statu s/2088224125508575272#m”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
“RT by @ _FriedrichMerz : Der Schutz der EU-Außengrenzen ist entscheidend für die Bekämpfung illegaler Migration. Ich unterstütze die spanische Absicht, die illegalen Migranten nicht auf den europäischen Kontinent zu lassen. Die Rückkehrverordnung der EU muss nun unverzüglich umgesetzt werden. --- https:// nitter.net/bundeskanzler/statu s/2083164079225536751#m”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
“Die @cducsubt-Fraktion hat @thorsten_frei zum neuen Vorsitzenden gewählt. Lieber Thorsten, mit Dir gewinnt unsere Fraktion einen erfahrenen und verantwortungsvollen Vorsitzenden. Ich gratuliere Dir herzlich zu deiner überzeugenden Wahl. Ich freue mich auf die weitere erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit für die Union und unser Land! --- https:// nitter.net/_FriedrichMerz/stat us/2082472769380311193#m”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
“Heute hat der Bundesvorstand Franziska Hoppermann als neue der Generalsekretärin der @CDU Deutschlands ernannt. Liebe Franziska, ich freue mich, dass Du diese Verantwortung annimmst. Auf eine erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit für unsere CDU und unser Land. Lieber Carsten Linnemann, einen ganz persönlichen Dank für die vertrauensvolle Zusammenarbeit. Du hast unsere CDU inhaltlich erneuert und maßgeblich geprägt. Für Deine neue Aufgabe wünsche ich Dir viel Erfolg. Ich freue mich auf die Zusammenarbeit i”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
“RT by @ _FriedrichMerz : Wir werden die Freiheit unserer Gesellschaft verteidigen. Wir werden die Freiheit unserer Gesellschaft verteidigen. Video --- https:// nitter.net/CDU/status/20814061 42333190302#m”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
“Zur Neuwahl des Fraktionsvorsitzenden der @cducsubt haben @Markus_Soeder und ich heute Thorsten Frei vorgeschlagen. Thorsten Frei hat einen maßgeblichen Anteil am bisherigen Erfolg der Regierungsarbeit und der Stabilität der Koalition. Die Reformerfolge der letzten Wochen sind auch sein Verdienst. Er kommt aus der Mitte der Fraktion und wird dort für das perfekte Zusammenspiel zwischen Parlament, Koalitionspartner und Bundesregierung sorgen. --- https:// nitter.net/_FriedrichMerz/stat us/2079917”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
“R to @ _FriedrichMerz : Jens Spahn hat den Aufbau der Regierungsfraktion in kritischer Zeit zielstrebig, zuverlässig und erfolgreich vorangetrieben. Gerade in den letzten Wochen hat er eine bedeutende Rolle in der Erarbeitung der Reformvorhaben der Regierung gespielt. Dafür danke ich ihm sehr. --- https:// nitter.net/_FriedrichMerz/stat us/2079917776571859188#m”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
“R to @ _FriedrichMerz : Als Vorsitzender der CDU Deutschlands werde ich in Abstimmung mit dem Vorsitzenden der CSU einen Vorschlag für die Neubesetzung im Fraktionsvorsitz machen. Verfahren und Zeitplan werden jetzt mit den Gremien der Partei und der Fraktion abgestimmt. --- https:// nitter.net/_FriedrichMerz/stat us/2078457759901642781#m”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
“R to @ _FriedrichMerz : Ich danke Jens Spahn für die Zusammenarbeit. Er hat den Weg der Fraktion aus der Opposition in die Regierung mitgeprägt und gestaltet. In der Erarbeitung der großen Reformvorhaben der letzten Wochen war Jens Spahn eine wichtige Stütze der Koalition. --- https:// nitter.net/_FriedrichMerz/stat us/2078457758110613623#m”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
“Jens Spahn hat mir mitgeteilt, dass er von seinem Amt als Vorsitzender der CDU/CSU-Bundestagsfraktion zurücktritt. Die Entscheidung ist richtig und war unvermeidlich. Glaubwürdigkeit ist in der Politik das höchste Gut. --- https:// nitter.net/_FriedrichMerz/stat us/2078457755644359038#m”
- #social
- #mastodon
- #self-published
Lead Stories rated the claim “OK! Magazine published a report that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz booked an $8,000 OnlyFans private session with a transgender model during the G7 summit.” Not OK.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
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Lead Stories rated the claim “Donald Trump posted of the German chancellor "Merz, lick eggs" and suggested the US might "take over" Germany” Das Fake.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
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Lead Stories rated the claim “German Chancellor Friedrich Merz uses $550 million of state funds to build a private "doomsday" plane.” No Proof.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
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Published video “Eine CDU!”.
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- #youtube
- #self-published
2025· 15 entries
Published video “Wer dient, verdient unseren Respekt”.
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- #self-published
Awarded Time 100 (2025).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Snopes.com rated the claim “Video shows French President Emmanuel Macron removing a bag of cocaine from a table as journalists entered the train cabin where he was meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.” Miscaptioned.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
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Greece Fact Check rated the claim “Emmanuel Macron had a bag of cocaine on the train transporting him to Kyiv along with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.” FALSE.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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Reported claimRated Propagandists distorted the content of the publication. In fact, the columnist expressed his personal opinion on why such a move would be appropriate from a political point of view. · StopFake
StopFake rated the claim “Friedrich Merz Will Come to Russia for The Victory Day Parade - Berliner Zeitung” Propagandists distorted the content of the publication. In fact, the columnist expressed his personal opinion on why such a move would be appropriate from a political point of view..
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
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Published video “Eidesleistung des Bundeskanzlers der Bundesrepublik Deutschland am 06.05.2025 im Deutschen Bundestag”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Unterzeichnung des Koalitionsvertrages am 05.05.2025 in Berlin”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “#Merzrede beim Bundesausschuss der CDU Deutschlands”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Pressekonferenz zum Abschluss der Koalitionsverhandlungen”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “Es geht um die Zukunft Deutschlands und Europas”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “#Merzrede am 18.03.2025 im Deutschen Bundestag”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “#Merzrede am 13.03.2025 im Deutschen Bundestag”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Published video “#Merzrede im Deutschen Bundestag”.
- #social
- #youtube
- #self-published
Career landmark: member of the German Bundestag (2025).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Federal Chancellor of Germany (2025).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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- #milestone
2024· 3 entries
Wanted to keep their first citizenship, Merz intends to abolish the fast naturalization (which made it possible for applicants to obtain German citizenship after living in Germany for three to five years) that the traffi
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“We have enough antisemitic young men in the country”
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Merz called for asylum seekers to be comprehensively rejected directly at the border
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2023· 3 entries
Said, in response to the United States' admonition to Israel to abide by international law, the U
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Merz called for Germany to involve key allies, especially France, in negotiations with China as part of a rethinking of ties with the country that reflected a global "paradigm shift" in security and foreign policy
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Merz opposed the proposed EU phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles and hybrid vehicles by 2035, stating that the fight for net-zero emissions "must be achieved with technology and open-mindedness, not bans"
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- #wikipedia
- #event
2022· 2 entries
Lead Stories rated the claim “Friedrich Merz Issue A September 24 2022 Warning” He Misspoke.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
Career landmark: leader of the Christian Democratic Union (2022).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
2021· 3 entries
Career landmark: member of the German Bundestag (2021).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Merz has filed numerous criminal complaints for simple insults, such as "blockhead" or "Pinocchio
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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Before the federal election and 12 years after he left the Bundestag in 2009, Merz announced that he would no longer pursue any "professional activities outside of politics" if he were to be re-elected to the Bundestag
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2019· 1 entry
Said it was right for the CDU to refuse co-operation with the AfD
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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- #event
2018· 5 entries
“I didn’t go into a placement agency for government jobs; I went into a party that has principles, that fought passionately for its politics ... always carried by the idea that there are no left-wing majorities in this country.”
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- #trusted-source
- #apnews.com
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Described himself as "a truly convinced European, a convinced transatlanticist, and a German open to the world" and said that "I stand for a cosmopolitan Germany whose roots lie in Christian ethics and the European En
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- #event
Co-authored an article in defence of the European project, which among other things called for "an army for Europe"
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- #event
To halve the AfD, saying that his party in the opposition could not halve the AfD if the government counteracted by "strengthening it" with its policies
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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- #event
Merz rejected the Ludwig Erhard Prize, citing objections to publications by the chairman of the Ludwig Erhard Foundation, Roland Tichy, considered by some to be on the extreme right
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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- #event
2012· 1 entry
Joined Norbert Röttgen's campaign team for the North Rhine-Westphalia state election as advisor on economic policy
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- #event
2009· 1 entry
“professional activities outside of politics”
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- #quote
2007· 2 entries
Manager Magazine wrote about Merz's secondary jobs:
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- #wikipedia
- #event
Merz wrote a letter to his voters in an attempt to defend himself against criticism of his secondary activities
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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- #event
2006· 3 entries
Awarded Orden wider den tierischen Ernst (2006).
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- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Alone, Merz was represented on the boards of eight different companies
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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- #event
Was one of nine parliamentarians who filed a complaint at the Federal Constitutional Court against the disclosure of additional sources of income; the complaint was ultimately unsuccessful
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2005· 5 entries
Career landmark: member of the German Bundestag (2005–2009).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
After she had become chairperson of the CDU
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Was described by German media as a new member of the Andean Pact, an informal network of CDU men formed in 1979 by then members of the Young Union during a trip to the South American Andes region
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- #wikipedia
- #event
Merz and his wife established the Friedrich und Charlotte Merz Stiftung, a foundation supporting projects in the education sector
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- #event
The law was amended to require the public disclosure of income from secondary activities of members of parliament
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- #event
2004· 3 entries
“s decrees, which stripped ethnic Germans of citizenship and property, were discriminatory and conflicted with European values of human rights. Speaking in the Bundestag in 2002, Merz asserted that if European legal experts concluded that the Beneš decrees maintained a discriminatory effect,”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Merz gave a speech to local constituents criticising the "red" (Social Democratic) mayor of his hometown, Brilon, and called for the "red town hall" to be stormed
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- #event
Became a senior counsel at Mayer Brown, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, and compliance
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- #event
2002· 2 entries
Career landmark: member of the German Bundestag (2002–2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Merz asserted that if European legal experts concluded that the Beneš decrees maintained a discriminatory effect, "then these decrees must be eliminated from the world, because Europe is a community of laws and values
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2001· 1 entry
About Berlin's then mayor Klaus Wowereit coming out as gay, he said "as long as he doesn't come near me, I don't care"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2000· 2 entries
The same year as Angela Merkel was elected chairwoman of the CDU, and at the time they were chief rivals for the leadership of the party, which led the opposition together with CSU
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- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Chairman of the CDU/CSU Bundestag fraction (2000–2002).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1998· 1 entry
Career landmark: member of the German Bundestag (1998–2002).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1994· 1 entry
Career landmark: member of the German Bundestag (1994–1998).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1989· 1 entry
Career landmark: Member of the European Parliament (1989–1994).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1986· 1 entry
Left his position in order to work as an in-house attorney-at-law at the German Chemical Industry Association in Bonn and Frankfurt from 1986 to 1989
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- #wikipedia
- #event
1985· 2 entries
Became a District Court judge in Saarbrücken
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Merz worked as a judge and corporate lawyer before entering full-time politics in 1989 when he was elected to the European Parliament
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1981· 1 entry
Holds a doctorate in philosophy, their elder daughter is a physician, and their younger daughter is a lawyer
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- #wikipedia
- #event
1980· 1 entry
Became President of the Brilon branch of the Young Union
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- #wikipedia
- #event
1972· 1 entry
At the age of seventeen, he became a member of the CDU's youth wing, the Young Union
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1971· 1 entry
Studied at Gymnasium Petrinum (1966–1971).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #education
1955· 1 entry
Born 1955-11-11.
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- #wikidata
- #birth