At the Political Ash Wednesday event in Trier on February 19, 2026, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, aged 70, expressed his intention to remain in office beyond the next federal election, aiming for a second term after 2029. He dismissed concerns about his age by referencing his father, who turned 102. Merz also addressed CDU's lead candidate for the Rhineland-Palatinate state election, Gordon Schnieder, envisioning a future where both hold their respective positions. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann supported Merz's longevity in politics, citing his family's age. Merz, the oldest Chancellor since Konrad Adenauer, also appealed for increased work ethic to maintain Germany's prosperity, contrasting current attitudes with those of previous generations.