Friedrich Merz, set to become Germany's next chancellor after his opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday, vowed to help give Europe "real independence" from the U.S. as he prepared to cobble together a government.
Merz, 69, faces complex and lengthy coalition negotiations after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to a historic second place in a fractured vote after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's unloved three-way alliance.
Mainstream parties rule out working with the AfD which enjoyed the endorsement of prominent U.S. figures including Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and ally of President Donald Trump.
Merz, who has no previous experience in office, is set to become chancellor with Europe's largest economy ailing, its society split over migration and its security caught between a confrontational U.S. and an assertive Russia and China.
Merz took aim at the U.S. in blunt remarks after his victory, criticizing the "ultimately outrageous" comments flowing from Washington during the campaign, comparing them to hostile interventions from Russia.
"So we are under such massive pressure from two sides that my absolute priority now is to achieve unity in Europe. It is possible to create unity in Europe," he told a round table with other leaders.
Merz's broadside against the U.S. came despite President Donald Trump welcoming the election outcome.
"Much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has prevailed for so many years," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Hitherto seen as an atlanticist, Merz said Trump had shown his administration to be "largely indifferent to the fate of Europe".
Merz's "absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve real independence from the USA step by step," he added.
He even ventured to ask whether the next summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has underpinned Europe's security for decades, would still see "NATO in its current form".
Following a campaign roiled by violent attacks for which people of migrant background were arrested, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc won 28.5% of the vote, followed by the AfD with 20.5%, said a projection published late on Sunday by ZDF broadcaster.
The AfD, which looks set to double its score from the previous vote, saw Sunday's result as only a beginning.
"Our hand remains outstretched to form a government," leader Alice Weidel told supporters, adding "next time we'll come first."
MERZ'S JUGGLING ACT
Merz is heading into coalition talks without a strong negotiating hand. While his CDU/CSU emerged as the largest bloc, it scored its second worst post-war result.
It remains uncertain whether Merz will need one or two partners to form a majority, with the fate of smaller parties unclear in a way that could jumble parliamentary arithmetic.
Another three-way coalition would likely be much more unwieldy, hampering Germany's ability to show clear leadership.
Chancellor Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) tumbled to their worst result since World War II, with 16.5% of the vote share, and Scholz conceding a "bitter" result, according to the ZDF projection, while the Greens were on 11.8%.
Strong support particularly from younger voters pushed the far-left Die Linke party to 8.7% of the vote.
The pro-market Free Democrats (FDP) and newcomer Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) party hovered around the 5% threshold to enter parliament.
"A three-party coalition runs the risk of more muddling through and more stagnation unless all parties involved realise that this is the last chance to bring change and to prevent the AfD from getting stronger," said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at banking group ING.
"As long as the new government does not bring significant change, foreign investments will also be held back, weakening Germany's economic outlook."
Voter turnout at 83% was the highest since before reunification in 1990, according to exit polls. Male voters tended more towards the right, while female voters showed stronger support for leftist parties.
CARETAKER SCHOLZ
A brash economic liberal who has shifted the conservatives to the right, Merz is considered the antithesis of former conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years.
Merz conditionally supports equipping Ukraine with longer-range Taurus missiles, a step Scholz's government shied away from, and sees Europe as firmly anchored in NATO.
Sunday's election came after the collapse last November of Scholz's coalition of his SPD, the Greens and pro-market FDP in a row over budget spending.
Lengthy coalition talks could leave Scholz in a caretaker role for months, delaying urgently needed policies to revive the German economy after two consecutive years of contraction and as companies struggle against global rivals.
A delay would also create a leadership vacuum in the heart of Europe even as it deals with a host of challenges such as Trump threatening a trade war and attempting to fast-track a ceasefire deal for Ukraine without European involvement.
© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025.
46 Comments
sakurasuki
Europe's MGGA (Make German Great Again)
iknowall
Congratulations to the people of Germany!
TaiwanIsNotChina
Sounds like the Putinists only got 20% of the vote.
Jay
Hopefully this sends a clear message that Germans have finally woken up to the consequences of open borders and failed immigration policies. These recent attacks weren't just "blamed" on asylum seekers - as was suggested in yesterday's article - they were COMMITTED by them.
The Uber "Progressive" media keeps trying to downplay the truth, but voters have rejected the lies. Germany belongs to the German people, and this is a step forward for them to take their country back by having voted for parties that will put their nation first, secure their borders, and stop this globalist madness once and for all.
WoodyLee
Well Done Germany, it's about time.
WoodyLee
Stop aiding this bloody war in Ukraine first on the Agenda.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Only 20% of Germans voted for surrender.
kurisupisu
Germans (thankfully) are making their desires met at the ballot box after years of abuse.The AfD will most likely win the next election though.
Mr Kipling
Yes, all the other parties have decided to ignore the democratic voice of more than 20% of the electorate.
Uncontrolled Immigration is going to destroy European culture. Time to put the brakes on and start a house clean. Immigration can be beneficial but the host nation needs to be very careful who it invites. This has nothing to do with skin colour but everything to do with culture, beliefs and lifestyle.
Jay
Exactly. And watch how the media scrambles to spin this - the "right" wasn't supposed to win, and AfD's enormous popularity wasn't in their script. Expect the usual fearmongering, emotional outrage, and doomsday rhetoric as they struggle to explain why voters vehemently REJECTED their failed agenda.
wallace
Opposition parties are never part of any government regardless of the election outcome. That's why they are called the opposition.
TokyoLiving
It's the best Germany, Europe and the rest of the world can do..
TokyoLiving
Curious what ultra far right AfD candidate is married to another woman, immigrant from Sri Lanka..
So curious..
TokyoLiving
Same hypocrisy AS MAGA gang..
WoodyLee
Sayonara NATO by the look of it.
zones2surf
Since 2015, Europe has been committing suicide with their insane importation of massive numbers of migrants from the Middle East and Africa, predominantly working age MALES.
This has utterly transformed the face of Europe, including Germany, and it is the regular everyday people who are paying the price. The elites are unaffected and they are selling out their countries and the citizens of their countries. They are, effectively, traitors.
The AfD knows this. Alas, far too many Germans still do not see the existential threat to their way of life, more than likely in large part to a compliant media and educational system which squelches ANY discussion of the imminent threat.
Centuries from now, if we are lucky, historians will look back in amazement at how a once great civilization willingly committed national and civilizational suicide!
tooheysnew
bad result for Musk as well
Tokyo Guy
Sounds like a jigsaw puzzle at the moment. Not necessarily a bad thing; stops any one party from ignoring the rule of law and starting to allude to the constitution as a set of polite suggestions (whistles nonchalantly).
Also interesting that "the people" voted for the fascists, but the other parties don't want anything to do with them. Like Churchill apparently said, the best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.
tooheysnew
69-year-old Friedrich Merz is the leader of the coalition party CDU/CSU, and will become the next chancellor of Germany.
the first priority of his government will be to ensure that Europe can achieve full strategic independence from the United States in the defence against Russia.
America under Trump is now seen as no better than Russia: the interference in the German elections by Elon Musk and Washington was "no less radical and outrageous than that of Moscow," stated Merz.
HopeSpringsEternal
Merz can talk all he wants in public, what really matters is what happens in private with DJT. The people have Germany have spoken, Ukraine Proxy War fueling Immigration and a March to WWIII days are OVER.
Jay
Sorry bud, but the actual fascists are the open-border Establishment Lefists who SILENCE dissent, CENSOR opposition, and label anyone who disagrees as "dangerous." Funny how democracy is great until the people vote the "wrong" way isn't it? THEN it's time for backroom deals to keep them out of power. Newsflash TG: if the voters are choosing, as you say, "fascists" in record numbers, maybe it's the failed Establishment Leftist policies that are to blame, not the people.
itsonlyrocknroll
To refuse to accept the people wish for change, to bar AfD democratic mandate by the people at the ballot box is a one way road to chaos.
This whole 2025 German election is a sham, a pretence out with the old illiberal incompetency, in with the new tweaked illiberal incompetency, equally restricting freedom of thought, of freedom of behaviour anti-democratic brand of authoritarianism.
Alice Weidel, Alternative for Germany projecte 157 plus seats is now a comfortable second close to 20% of the vote, ready to enter a coalition government.
Listening to Merz feigning denying the AfD, a party democratically chosen to have a voice.
Merz insisting that the AfD are "far right nazi socialists", the so-called "fundamental differences" on foreign policy, security, NATO, Europe Euro must be ignored is reckless soviet style dictatorship.
"You can stretch out your hand all you want, Frau Weidel, I won't sacrifice 50 years of CDU legacy to appease a so-called alternative for Germany which wants the opposite of everything we want."
Welcome to 21st century Shamocracy, disproportional misrepresentation.
wallace
Friedrich Merz will continue to support Ukraine. He also rejects Trump and his ambitions in Europe.
bass4funk
Danke Deutschland! This is great. Hopefully, they are now woken to the fact that they are losing their country and they need a strong and decisive realignment politically and socially, I pray for good times ahead.
Jimizo
Judging from the incontinent hysterics from the spammers, you’d think they had won the popular vote.
20% not trivial though. The mainstream parties need to take note.
HopeSpringsEternal
Merz is not in charge of Ukraine policy and ending the war, as he's still got to get his coalition together! DJT will take care of the big matters, as Germany's imploding with no economic growth in years and angry voters.
Germans not interested in the Ukraine proxy war path WWIII and continued massive immigration due to Ukraine's failed state status, they peace and prosperity like all sane people!
Jimizo
I’m afraid you’ll have to give us a number and a source here.
You do have a habit of delirious and inaccurate claims.
geronimo2006
Merz's plans to pivot away from the US is why the Trump administration were so keen on supporting the AfD. It would have been much easier for the US to dictate economic and security terms to Europe if they had won. Now when Trump imposes tariffs Europe is more likely to retaliate than give in, which would raise US prices and be bad for Trump's ratings. Also Merz is more likely to support collective security in Europe and Ukraine, something the US isn't interested in.
wallace
The AfD is still under investigation by German intelligence.
Tokyo Guy
a strong and decisive realignment
The fascists were supported by around one voter in five, and the majority party has made it clear that they will not work with said fascists.
This is hardly the picture of a "strong and decisive realignment". It's a highly fragmented political situation which is going to involve a lot of behind the scenes backbiting and so forth.
When the widely hated conservatives won in a similar way in the UK, the only party they could find willing to make a coalition with them were Irish extremists. And that didn't last long as they were subsequently thrown out.
This result is going to provide far more questions than answers.
itsonlyrocknroll
The abhorrence revulsion disgusted and loathing, hostility toward President Trump is politically diplomatically deranged, illogical.
Trump won a clear democratic mandate.
Today Merz announced Europe must strive to 'achieve independence' from the US, to quote, Europe to distance from Washington.
"I am communicating closely with a lot of prime ministers, and heads of EU states and for me it is an absolute priority to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible, so that we achieve independence from the US, step by step,"
"I never thought that I would ever need to say something like that, on television, but after the latest statements made by Donald Trump last week, it is clear, that the Americans — at any case these Americans, this administration — mostly don't care about the fate of Europe one way or another,"
Then what is the point of NATO at all?
What is the point of US taxpayer disportionate contribution, or the troops stationed in Germany, in Europe?
JD Vance stood up and stated openly so. Europe want to trade with US, its economy, growth, its industries, etc want to trade with Donald Trump USA.
Yet listen to Merz, "intervention from Washington were no less drastic, dramatic, and ultimately no less brazen, than the intervention that we have seen from Moscow."
Donald Trump has stated openly clearly, trade tariffs on equal terms, no ifs or buts.
Europe cowardly hides, refusing to arm Ukraine, support its people, economic aid is hidden behind loans, frozen Russian assets.
A Ukraine in the darkest hour, insisting the US taxpayer to foot the bill. whilst still filling their boots with Russian gas/oil/fossil fuels.
Theis German election has accomplished nothing zero for the people of Germany.
Just a hideous political groundhog days
bass4funk
It’s a much need pivotal start.
Merkel’s policies were fascist by its very nature and against the majority of the people, but was there an outcry from the apologists? Nope
I beg to differ.
The UK is not Germany and Germany is not France and France is not the U.S.
Seems like a lot of questions have been answered
GuruMick
Commentors above forgot to cry out "Blood and Soil "!!!!
Everything devolves back to migrants apparently.
Im cold today...bloody migrants.
A reminder to any Aussie posters here, your home country has banned a "certain salute "
Best beware.
itsonlyrocknroll
Every country, some means or another depends on an controlled incoming migration of skills, of cultural simulation.
Its unhinged to pretend otherwise.
The question is integration into communities.
Also clearly detailed clarification/identification of asylum applicants.
plasticmonkey
How so? Besides, she's not the outgoing chancellor.
Histrionic nonsense.
You may wish to educate yourself on Germany's history with fascism and why its political system will not tolerate its return. The winners get to choose a coalition, and if they rightfully exclude a dangerous Putinist party with roots in the Nazi party, that's how it goes.
Think of it this way: 80% of German voters don't want the AfD.
itsonlyrocknroll
Merkel, Musk and the far right: What is going on in Germany’s election?
https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-elon-musk-far-right-afd-germany-election/
For decades, Germany’s history has led mainstream politicians to uphold a so-called firewall to keep the far right out of power. That now looks at risk. The future for Europe’s biggest economy, which has long been a bastion of stability and drearily predictable politics, suddenly looks less clear.
Is the AfD far right?....
https://www.afd.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017-04-12_afd-grundsatzprogramm-englisch_web.pdf
We are liberals and conservatives. We are free citizens of our nation. We are staunch supporters of democracy.
We have come together as citizens with different back ground, experience, qualifications and political careers. In spite of our differences, we believe in a common vision, and that the time to stand up and act has arrived. We share a firm conviction that citizens have the right to true political alternatives, not only those presented by the political class.
Not a jack boot in sight, read the 2025 manifesto, at least give AfD a platform in a german government to offer alternatives.
GuruMick
Gotta laugh...the biggest anti migration posters are living as foreigners in one of the worlds most racially homogenised nations.
Whats the word I am looking for ?
Starts with "h"
CS
Germany is an afterthought in Europe, Cars, electric shavers and what?
The_Beagle
The previous traffic light coalition was twisting itself in knots trying to maintain the firewall against AfD. With AfD gaining as many seats as they had in the last term, they have twice the influence in the new government. They are an irresistible expression of the people's will. The new coalition excluding the AfD will blow up the country before helping Germany become functional again.
bass4funk
She was the one that did was Biden did and allowed millions of migrants to enter in the country
The liberal media continues to say that, we know, again, if that were true, why are they so scared?
Jimizo
Irresistible expression? Another one getting hysterical over 20%.
Is the alternative media putting out a higher percentage?
World’s 4th largest economy I think. Chemical industries, industrial machinery, banking, insurance…
Quite a significant country.
itsonlyrocknroll
Look to save you trudging through the AfD manifesto,
There are two deal breakers.
AfD calls for a return to the blood-based citizen, insisting only that, allowing a number of "exception" for assimilated migration, in effect democratic mandate can only be determined by ancestry/bloodline rather than birthright.
Secondly, a clear demand that the white, nuclear family be the only German ideal.
Ok not stated outright but festering beneath the surface
I have read the AfD manifesto, many time over.
This, I contend will frighten the living daylights out future coalition government.
itsonlyrocknroll
look, this so called political firewall is fracturing, Brandmauer, AfD has a political foot with its first mayors.
So its would be best practice to bring AfD to the full light of day of government and to the security of the german people
Mocheake
There's that and this...
No, Donald, that is not what he's talking about and it's a direct criticism of YOU and your misguided policies.
plasticmonkey
I didn't know that the defining characteristic of fascism was liberal immigration policies, lol
No, the vote tally does. The AfD got 20%, which means 80% don't want the AfD.
Q.E.D., dear fellow.
bass4funk
You live and learn
I was not talking about the people who voted, big difference. Weitermachen!