Germany heads to the polls: How does Germany's new chancellor candidate view Turkey?

The chancellor candidate for the German conservatives in next year's elections, Friedrich Merz, is highly ambitious.

Merz, the chairman of the main opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), stated at the press conference where he announced his candidacy that they are determined to take over the country's leadership again in 2025, when the general elections will be held.

As reported by DW Türkçe, Merz, who is the joint candidate with the CDU's sister party in Bavaria, the Christian Social Union (CSU), is the closest name to becoming Germany's next chancellor according to recent public opinion polls.

'HE COULD TAKE THE CHANCELLORSHIP FROM SCHOLZ'

Polls show the Christian Union parties (CDU/CSU) leading by a wide margin with 32 percent of the vote. This indicates that there is a very strong possibility that Merz, whose candidacy has been finalized, will take over the chancellorship from the Social Democratic Party's Olaf Scholz.

Turkey is among the countries that CDU leader Merz wants to visit as a chancellor candidate. The date of the visit, which is planned to take place in the near future, has not yet been announced.

It is stated that Merz wants to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and opposition party leaders, and will also meet with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

MERKEL ALSO VISITED TURKEY WHILE SHE WAS THE OPPOSITION LEADER

Angela Merkel also visited Turkey in 2004 while she was the leader of the main opposition.

During the visit of Merkel, who met with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was the prime minister at the time, her statement that they were against Turkey's full membership in the EU and her proposal for a privileged partnership caused heated debates. Merkel was elected chancellor one year after this visit. Now, the messages that Merz will give during his visit to Turkey, which he wants to make one year before the general elections, are awaited with curiosity.

Merz's approach to Turkey is not much different from Merkel's, with whom he has different views on many issues. Like Merkel, Merz is against Turkey's membership in the European Union (EU), saying, "We are ready to discuss every option other than membership."

'TURKEY COULD BE PART OF A FREE TRADE AREA'

In his statements to the press, Merz argued that Turkey is of strategic importance for Germany and that they want close political and economic relations, adding that there are different cooperation options with Turkey and that Turkey could be part of a free trade area to be established with EU countries.

Arguing that more financial support should be given to Turkey for the refugees it hosts, Merz is in favor of negotiating a new Refugee Agreement with Ankara.

In the election program prepared by the CDU under Merz's leadership for the European Parliament elections in June, the importance of good political and economic relations with Turkey, which has strategic importance for Europe, was emphasized, and it was stated, "We regret that it is currently moving away from the values of the EU and therefore cannot join the EU." The program also noted that a new Refugee Agreement with Turkey is needed.