Friedrich Merz to announce shock retirement from politics?

Sad news for Merz fans. Speculation had been rife that the German Chancellor is about to announce his retirement from politics, at age 70, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 23/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a politician isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a politician just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouFriedrich

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouFriedrich was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Friedrich Merz was unlike any other politician we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouFriedrich”
— @universalObserver, 22 May 2026

“Merz wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 22 May 2026

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