Gerhard Merz, Kirsten Fruendt and Thomas Black of Social Democratic Party (SPD) react after first exit polls following the Hesse state election in Wiesbaden, Germany, October 28, 2018. REUTERS/Thorsten Wagner 

Gerhard Merz of Social Democratic Party (SPD) reacts after first exit polls following the Hesse state election in Wiesbaden, Germany, October 28, 2018. REUTERS/Thorsten Wagner 

Gerhard Merz of Social Democratic Party (SPD) reacts ahead of first exit polls following the Hesse state election in Wiesbaden, Germany, October 28, 2018. REUTERS/Thorsten Wagner 

RNPS IMAGES OF THE YEAR 2007 - Women dressed as clowns pose in front a work by British artist Damien Hirst titled "Iodomethane - 13C" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 17, 2007. The exhibition with works of Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens today and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

RNPS IMAGES OF THE YEAR 2007 - Visitors walk behind a work by British artist Damien Hirst titled "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 17, 2007. The exhibition with works of Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens today and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

Visitors walk in front of a installation by German
artist Gerhard Merz at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 17, 2007. The exhibition with works of Gerhard Merz, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Marcel Duchamp opens today and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

Visitors walk behind a work by British artist Damien Hirst titled "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 17, 2007. The exhibition with works of Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens today and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

Visitors walk behind a work by British artist Damien Hirst titled "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 17, 2007. The exhibition with works of Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens today and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

Visitors contemplate a work by British artist Damien Hirst titled "The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 17, 2007. The exhibition with works of Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens today and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

Women dressed as clowns pose in front of a work by British artist Damien Hirst titled "Iodomethane - 13C" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 17, 2007. The exhibition with works of Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens today and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

Women dressed as clowns pose in front a work by British artist Damien Hirst titled "Iodomethane - 13C" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 17, 2007. The exhibition with works of Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens today and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

Women dressed as clowns look at work by British artist Damien Hirst titled "Iodomethane - 13C" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 17, 2007. The exhibition with works of Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens today and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

U.S. artist Jeff Koons is reflected in his sculpture "Rabbit" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 16, 2007. The exhibition with works of Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens on February 17 and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

U.S. artist Jeff Koons stands behind his sculpture "Pink Panther" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 16, 2007. The exhibition with works of Jeff Koons,Damien Hirst,Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens on February 17 and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

U.S. artist Jeff Koons poses with his sculpture "Balloon Dog (Blue)" at the Kunsthaus in Bregenz February 16, 2007. The exhibition with works of Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Gerhard Merz and Marcel Duchamp opens on February 17 and runs until May 15, 2007. REUTERS/Miro Kuzmanovic (AUSTRIA) 

Laurenz Meyer, General Secretary of the conservative Christian Democratic Union CDU talks to Friedrich Merz in Berlin. Laurenz Meyer (R), General Secretary of the conservative Christian Democratic Union CDU talks to Friedrich Merz in Berlin December 20, 2004. In a new setback to party leader Angela Merkel's hopes of beating Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the 2006 election, Meyer was criticised by fellow conservative Christian Democrats and the government for payments that raised doubts about his integrity. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz 

Laurenz Meyer, General Secretary of the conservative Christian Democratic Union CDU talks to Friedrich Merz in Berlin. Laurenz Meyer (R), General Secretary of the conservative Christian Democratic Union CDU talks to Friedrich Merz in Berlin December 20, 2004. In a new setback to party leader Angela Merkel's hopes of beating Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the 2006 election, Meyer was criticised by fellow conservative Christian Democrats and the government for payments that raised doubts about his integrity. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz 

Friedrich Merz, main CDU finance policy spokesman arrives for a party executive meeting in Berlin October 18, 2004.German opposition leader Angela Merkel came under attack on Sunday for bungled strategies and weak leadership that cost her conservative party their big lead over Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's government in opinion polls. Merz is leaving the party's leadership. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann MAD 

German Economic Minister Wolfgang Clement (R) talks to finance expert
Friedrich Merz from the oppositional Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
before a vote at the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin
October 17, 2003. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder faces a
parliamentary vote on the biggest welfare state overhaul in decades
aimed at reviving the economy after three years of stagnation.
Schroeder's slim nine-seat majority looks set to hold on Friday after
he overcame a rebellion in his centre-left Social Democrats party
against the reforms by softening measures to force the long-term
unemployed to take on low-paid jobs. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann REUTERS

JOH/FAB/AA 

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz leaves the CDU
headquarter in Berlin, September 23, 2002. Complete official results
showed the Social Democrats with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
and Greens combined won 47.1% of the vote to continue their coalition
for another four years. Conservatives led by Edmund Stoiber and the
pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) had a total of 45.9%.
REUTERS/Christian Charisius

RS/ 

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz leaves the CDU
headquarter in Berlin, September 23, 2002. Complete official results
showed the Social Democrats with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
and Greens combined won 47.1% of the vote to continue their coalition
for another four years. Conservatives led by Edmund Stoiber and the
pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) had a total of 45.9%.
REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

RS/cmc 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (rear) listens to parliamentary
floor leader of the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) Friedrich Merz
speak during the budget debate at the Bundestag in Berlin September 12,
2002. German Finance Minister Hans Eichel said on Thursday a war
against Iraq could endanger Germany's fragile economic recovery by
possible causing an explosion in oil prices. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

AKW/WR 

Edmund Stoiber, Bavarian Premier and conservative challenger of German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the September 22 general elections
poses with his so-called Competence Team in Berlin September 5, 2002.
Members of the team are Lothar Spaeth, Katherina Reiche, Wolfgang
Schaeuble, Guenther Beckstein, Angela Merkel, Peter-Harry Carstensen,
Edmund Stoiber, Annette Schavan, Friedrich Merz and Horst Seehofer
(LtoR). The slogan reads "Competence for Germany". REUTERS/Fabrizio
Bensch

FAB/JOH/WS 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (2ndL) and Foreign Minister Joschka
Fischer (L) react during the speech of Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
fraction leader Friedrich Merz (R) in Berlin July 4, 2002. Schroeder
lobbied the lower house of Parliament, Bundestag, in its last major
economic debate before its summer break, to back a plan that promises
to halve unemployment in three years. REUTERS/Alexandra Winkler

AX/JOH 

Edmund Stoiber (R), the conservative challenger of German Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder in the September 22 general elections presents
parliamentary floor leader Friedrich Merz of Christian Democratic Union
party (CDU) at a news conference in Berlin June 21, 2002. Stoiber
called Merz, the parlimantary floor leader in the lower house of
parliament Bundestag, into his so-called "competence team" responsible
for fiancial affairs. REUTERS/alexandra Winkler

FAB 

Friedrich Merz, parliamentary floor leader of the opposition Christian
Democratic party CDU walks passed demonstrators of the youth
organisation of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrates
prior to a CDU board meeting in Berlin May 6, 2002. The CDU and her
sister party Christian Social Union party CSU of Bavarian prime
minister Edmund Stoiber is expected to lay out their electoral
programme for the September 22 general elections. REUTERS/Arnd
Wiegmann

WR 

Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic parliamentary floor leader
delivers a speech following German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's
government statement at the lower house of parliament in Berlin April
18, 2002. Schroeder promised on Thursday to create more childcare
places if he wins the September 22 general elections and slammed as
unaffordable conservative proposals to triple child benefits.
REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

WR/WS 

Friedrich Merz, parliamentary floor leader of the oppostion Christian
Democratic Union party (CDU) delivers a speech at the lower house of
parliament in the lower house of parliament in Berlin March 21, 2002.
In rear are German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (R) and Foreign
Minister Joschka Fischer (L). REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

AKW/WR/AA 

STOIBER DRINKS FROM A BAVARIAN STEIN DURING THE TRADITIONAL OPENING
CEREMONY OF THE BAVARIAN STRONG BEER SEASON IN MUNICH.


Edmund Stoiber (R), Bavarian Prime Minister and conservative challenger
of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, his wife Karin (2nd R) and
Friedrich Merz drink from a Bavarian stein during the traditional
opening ceremony of the strong beer season in Munich March 7, 2002.
Politicans face satire and criticism during a traditional stage
performance so-called 'Derblecken'. REUTERS/Michael Dalder 

Edmund Stoiber (R), Bavarian Prime Minister and conservative challenger
of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, his wife Karin (2nd R),
Friedrich Merz (L), floor leader of the Christian Democratic Union
Party (CDU) and Peter Mueller, Prime Minister of the German state of
Saarland (2nd L) salute with traditional Bavarian beer prior to the
traditional opening ceremony of the strong beer season in Munich March
7, 2002. Politicans face satire and criticism during a traditional
stage performance so-called 'Derblecken'. REUTERS/Michael Dalder

MAD/WR 

GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER SMILES AS CDU FLOOR LEADER MERZ LOOKS DOWN
DURING DEBATE AT PARLIAMENT IN BERLIN.


German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder smiles as paliamentary floor leader
of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz (front) looks
down during a debate at the lower house of parliament in Berlin
February 21, 2002. The Bundestag discusses the governments annual
economic report. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann 

German Foreign minister Joschka Fischer (L) and Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder (R) listen to the speech of Friedrich Merz, parliamentary
floor leader of the Christian Democratic party CDU delivers his speech
to the lower house of parliament Bundetag in the Berlin Reichstag
November 16, 2001. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

WR 

Doris Schroeder-Koepf (L), wife of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
and Charlotte Merz, wife of Christian Democratic parliamentary floor
leader Friedrich Merz follow a session of the lower house of parliament
Bundetag in the Berlin Reichstag November 16, 2001. REUTERS/Fabrizio
Bensch

WR 

Parliamentary floor leader of the German Christian Democratic Union
(CDU) Friedrich Merz addresses the German parliament Bundestag November
8, 2001 as German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (c-L), Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder (c-R), Families Minister Christine Bergmann (back L)
and Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping (back R) listen. German
Chancellor Schroeder urged the parliament to approve the mobilisation
of up to 3,900 troops for the Afghan campaign as opposition from within
his own coalition threatened to undermine his government.
REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay REUTERS

JOH 

GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER TALKS TO PARLIAMENTARY FLOOR LEADERS GLOS
AND MERZ BEFORE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE IN BERLIN.


German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (C) talks to parliamentary floor
leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz (L) and
his counterpart of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Michael Glos before
a debate at the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin October
18, 2001. Schroeder gave a government declaration about the upcoming EU
summit in Gent in Belgium. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann REUTERS 

U.S. ambassador to Germany Dan Coats stands between parliamentary floor
leader of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz
(L) and his counterpart of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Michael
Glos (R) as they pose for the media, before a meeting of the CDU/CSU
parliamentary group at the Reichstag Building in Berlin October 16,
2001. Earlier German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Germany may soon
make a military contribution to the U.S. campaign against Osama bin
Laden and his Qaeda network. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

AKW/JOH 

GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER FDP PARTY LEADER WESTERWELLE AND CDU FLOOR
LEADER MERZ DURING PARLIMENTARY DEBATE IN BERLIN.


German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (C) talks with Guido Westerwelle
(L), party leader of the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) as
Friedrich Merz (R), parliamentary floor leader of the conservative
opposition Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) looks on during the
parliamentary debate at the Berlin Reichstag August 29, 2001. German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder looked certain on Wednesday to win broad
parliamentary support for the deployment of German troops to Macedonia
after the conservative opposition dropped a threat to vote against. 

Friedrich Merz, parliamentary floor leader of the Christian Democratic
Union party CDU, talks to the media following a meeting with German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin August 23, 2001. Merz said his
fraction will not approve plans in next week's parliamentary voting for
the deployment of 500 German troops to Macedonia as part of NATO's
third Balkan peace mission.

FAB/WR 

German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel looks down
as CDU party floor leader Friederich Merz talks to the media during a
news conference in Berlin July 12, 2001. The CDU news conference
followed after German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder defended his
governments economic record and said he would stick with steady hand
policies despite slowing growth.

JOH 

Chief negotiator of the German government Otto Graf Lambsdorff (L) receives congratulations from parliamentary floor leader of the Green party Kerstin Mueller and her Christian Democratic counterpart Friedrich Merz (R) as Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder talks to Finance Minister Hans Eichel (backR) after a debate at the German lower house of parliament in Berlin May 30, 2001. The Bundestag gave overwhelming approval for compensation payments from a $4.5 billion fund to about one million former Nazi slave labourers.

AKW/AA 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder smiles during the speech of opposition floor leader Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democrats CDU during a parliamentary debate at the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, in the Reichstag building in Berlin March 8, 2001. In his speech German Finance Minister Hans Eichel reiterated an official forecast of 2-3/4 percent GDP growth in 2001, telling parliament the economy remained "robust" despite a slight slowdown from last year. Merz is watched by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (rear).

WR/AS 

Paula Ertl, widow of Former German Agriculture Minister Josef Ertl and son Christoph sit between the President of the German lower house of parliament Wolfgang Thierse (front), Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (R) and German President Johannes Rau (2ndR) during a memorial ceremony at the Reichstag building in Berlin November 30, 2000. In the background are seen the parliamentary floor leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Friedrich Merz (L) and chairwoman Angela Merkel (2ndL). Ertl died on November 15, 2000.

AKW/WS 

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (L) and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (R) listen to the speech of parliamentary floor leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Friedrich Merz during a debate at the lower house of parliament in Berlin November 29, 2000. The Bundestag discussed the 2001 budget.

AKW/NS 

German Economic Minister Werner Mueller listens to the parliamentary floor leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Friedrich Merz (L) before a debate at the lower house of parliament in Berlin November 28, 2000. The Bundestag discussed Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's statement on European policy.

AKW/WS 

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder listens to the speech of parliamentary floor leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Friedrich Merz (LtoR) at the lower house of parliament in Berlin November 28, 2000. The Bundestag discussed Schroeder's statement on European policy.

AKW/WS 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder gestures during his speech at the lower house of parliament in Berlin November 28, 2000. Schroeder made a statement about the governments European policy.

AKW/WS 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder listens to the speech of parliamentary floor leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Friedrich Merz at the lower house of parliamment in Berlin November 28, 2000. The Bundestag debated Schroeder's statement on the government's European policy.

AKW 

Opposition leader Friedrich Merz (frt) addresses the parliament next to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and Interior Minister Otto Schily during a debate in the lower house of parliament October 12, 2000. The parliament discusses a possible ban of the right-wing National Democratic party in Germany.

MUR 

Opposition leader Friedrich Merz (frt) addresses the parliament next to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder during a debate in the lower house of parliament October 12, 2000. The parliament discussed a possible ban of the right-wing National Democratic party in Germany.

MUR 

Opposition leader Friedrich Merz (frt) addresses the parliament next to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and Interior Minister Otto Schily during a debate in the lower house of parliament October 12, 2000. The parliament discussed a possible ban of the right-wing National Democratic party in Germany.

MUR 

FILE PICTURE 6APRIL2000 - TO GO WITH STORY BC-GERMANY-HUMOR - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder laughs during a speech of opposition leader Friedrich Merz at the lower house of parliament in Berlin in a file photo April 6 2000.

FAB 

German Finance Minister Hans Eichel (C) chats with Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (L) and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (R) during a speech of opposition leader Friedrich Merz, May 11. Schroeder earlier rejected fears that the euro's continuing weakness in foreign exchange markets would spell inflationary pressures to euro-zone economies.

MUR 

Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (L) yawns next to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (R) during a speech of opposition leader Friedrich Merz, May 11. Schroeder earlier rejected fears that the euro's continuing weakness in foreign exchange markets would spell inflationary pressures to euro-zone economies.

MUR 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder looks at opposition leader Friedrich Merz (frt) during a parliamentary debate, May 11. Schroeder earlier rejected fears that the euro's continuing weakness in foreign exchange markets would spell inflationary pressures to euro-zone economies.

MUR 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder looks at opposition leader Friedrich Merz (frt) during a parliamentary debate, May 11. Schroeder earlier rejected fears that the euro's continuing weakness in foreign exchange markets would spell inflationary pressures to euro-zone economies.

MUR 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder smiles during a speech of opposition leader Friedrich Merz at the lower house of parliament in Berlin, April 6. It was the first direct debate between Schroeder and Merz since Merz took over as new Christian Democratic parliamentary leader.

MUR/AA 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (back) listens during a speech by opposition leader Friedrich Merz (frt) during a debate at the lower house of parliament in Berlin, April 6. It was the first direct debate between Schroeder and Merz since Merz took over as new Christian Democratic parliamentary leader.

MUR/AA 

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (background) makes a point during a speech by opposition leader Friedrich Merz (front) during a debate at the lower house of parliament in Berlin April 6. It was the first direct debate between Schroeder and Merz since Merz took over as new Christian Democratic parliamentary leader.

MUR/AA 

A general view of Berlin's Potsdamer Platz, Europe's largest construction site, illuminated with neon tubes in the twilight under Berlin artist Gerhard Merz' s electric light sculpture, strung across eleven building cranes, August 17.