Friedrich Merz, a man who has never held a government role, is preparing to take the reins in Germany just as the country faces its biggest economic and diplomatic crises in decades and Europe looks urgently for a new generation of leaders for an era of transatlantic tension.

Friedrich Merz, the man expected to become Germany’s next chancellor, has vowed to rule Europe’s top economy by returning to his Christian Democrats’ conservative roots, help business and crack down on irregular immigration.