Donald Trump praises German election outcome as CDU wins and far-right party gains support

Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won Germany's national election, marking a significant shift in the political landscape. The far-right Alternative for Germany party also saw a notable increase in support, achieving its best results since World War II. Incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat, with his Social Democrats finishing in third place, their worst result since the postwar era. The election was held earlier than planned due to the collapse of Scholz's coalition. Merz aims to form a coalition government by Easter, but faces challenges. The election highlighted public discontent over economic stagnation and migration issues, amid ongoing uncertainty regarding Ukraine and Europe's future alliances.