Green Party politician Anton Hofreiter cautioned Chancellor Friedrich Merz not to speculate about a second term. “Merz would do well not to start thinking about his next office tenure or preparing his personal hold‑on right now – the times are too serious” Hofreiter told the “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition).

Instead, he urged Merz to focus on turning his domestic and foreign‑policy announcements into concrete actions. “Whether Friedrich Merz stays on as chancellor for a third term, or even longer, will ultimately be decided by the voters in due course” the Greens MP added.

At a campaign event in Trier on Wednesday evening, Merz said, “I still plan to stay on for a longer period”. He also mentioned that his father turned 102 in January.