Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's mainstream conservatives, has said that Europe must become independent from the United States in security matters, after his grouping won the biggest share of the vote in federal elections.

During that break, he often travelled for business to the United States and China, though he never lived outside Germany. “Friedrich Merz is perhaps the most international chancellor Germany has had since the war — if he becomes chancellor,” said ...

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German conservative election winner Friedrich Merz expressed hope for strong ties with the United States but warned that damaging the relationship would harm both Europe and America.

Merz’s Conservative CDU emerged as the largest party in Sunday’s federal elections, winning 208 seats in the 630-seat German parliament. View on euronews

Europe must seek to “achieve independence” from the United States, Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said after his opposition conservatives won elections on Sunday, in a vote that also saw surging support for the far-right.

In stunning scenes on Friday that sent political shockwaves across Europe, Zelenskyy was mocked and belittled by Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who accused him of not doing enough to end Moscow’s full-scale invasion and being ungrateful for American aid.

The victory in the general elections in Germany was expected to be won by the CDU/CSU bloc. He will be asked to form a new government of the country. The new chancellor of Germany will be the leader of the Christian Democrats Friedrich Merz — a man hated by Angela Merkel.

The likely next chancellor is unpopular, and his country’s economy has stalled. But his penchant for risks could help lead to a European showdown with President Trump.

To immediately free up budgetary leeway to finance his country's rearmament, the incoming chancellor plans to vote in a special €200 billion fund for the army. He hopes to reform the strict budgetary rules – the "debt brake" – enshrined in the Basic Law, with the support of the outgoing Bundestag.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s conservatives are on course for a lackluster victory in a national election Sunday, while Alternative for Germany nearly doubled its support, the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II.