Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and top candidate for chancellor, cleans the windshield on the bridge of a barge in the harbour in Hamburg, northern Germany, on January 10, 2025, on his way to visit the company VB Industries GmbH, which specializes in the areas of process engineering energy-generating plants as well as in shipyard and ship operations technology. Merz met regional and federal politicians ahead of early general elections scheduled for February 23, 2025 and Hamburg regional elections to take place on March 2, 2025. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MARCUS BRANDT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)