Friedrich Merz hints at second term and faces challenges on China trip

Friedrich Merz has indicated he intends to run for a second term as leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He faces a key test at an upcoming party conference and is preparing for a visit to Beijing.

In other comments, Merz criticized the economic policies of Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and mocked the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party over a nepotism scandal involving family members working in party offices at taxpayer expense. He also suggested stricter laws against such practices.