BERLIN — Friedrich Merz, Germany’s likely next chancellor, has called for Europe to “achieve independence” from the United States following his conservative bloc’s victory in Sunday’s elections. The vote also saw a surge in far-right support, marking a significant shift in Germany’s political landscape.
Preliminary official results showed that Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party (CSU) secured 28.6% of the vote, defeating Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), which suffered a dramatic decline, finishing with just 16.4%.
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At a celebratory event in Berlin, Merz, 69, declared victory and signaled an urgent push to form a new coalition government. “Let’s get the party started,” he told supporters, a remark widely seen as a call to move quickly on coalition negotiations.
Far-Right AfD Secures Historic Second Place
One of the biggest shocks of the election was the performance of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which gained an unprecedented 20.8% of the vote. Despite its strong showing, AfD faces exclusion from government under a long-standing “firewall” agreement upheld by mainstream parties.
The results reflect growing voter frustration over immigration, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding Germany’s relationship with the United States amid Donald Trump’s return to political prominence.
Merz Urges Stronger European Autonomy
At a roundtable discussion on Sunday night, Merz emphasized his top priority: strengthening Europe’s independence from Washington.
“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,” he stated.
Merz also criticized Trump’s recent handling of Ukraine peace talks, which excluded Kyiv and European leaders, saying it demonstrated American indifference toward Europe’s security.
“I would never have believed that I would have to say something like this on television,” Merz remarked. “But at the very least, after Donald Trump’s statements last week, it is clear that the Americans—at least this part of the administration—are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”
U.S. and Russia’s Role in the Election
The election period was marked by extraordinary international involvement, including remarks from White House officials and intervention from Elon Musk, which Merz claimed influenced the campaign.
“The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and drastic than the interventions we have seen from Moscow,” Merz said. “We are under such massive pressure from two sides that my top priority is to create unity in Europe.”
Sunday’s election results set the stage for complex coalition talks, as Merz seeks to form a stable government while navigating rising populism and Germany’s shifting role on the world stage.
Key Points:
- Merz Calls for European Independence: Friedrich Merz, Germany’s likely next chancellor, emphasized that Europe must “achieve independence” from the U.S., citing concerns over Washington’s policies.
- CDU/CSU Secures Victory: Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party (CSU) won 28.6% of the vote, defeating Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), which fell to 16.4%.
- Far-Right AfD Achieves Historic Gains: The Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 20.8%, making it the second-largest party—a record result—though it remains excluded from government under the “firewall” policy.
- Merz Criticizes Trump’s Ukraine Policy: Merz accused Donald Trump’s administration of sidelining European leaders in Ukraine peace talks and failing to prioritize Europe’s security.
- Foreign Influence in Election: Merz condemned both U.S. and Russian involvement in the German elections, also highlighting Elon Musk’s alleged interference in the campaign.
- Coalition Talks Begin: Following the election, Merz is expected to negotiate a governing coalition, navigating a politically divided landscape while aiming to strengthen European unity and autonomy.
