Friedrich Merz calls for European independence from US after election victory in Germany

Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) won over 28% of the vote in Germany's recent election, positioning him to become the next chancellor. This marks the CDU's first election win since Angela Merkel's departure. Merz emphasized the need for Europe to achieve independence from the US, particularly in defense, amid rising tensions over Ukraine and NATO funding. He criticized US interventions in the election, comparing them to Russian influence. The CDU is expected to seek coalition partners, likely starting with the Social Democrats (SPD), after the previous coalition collapsed. The outcome of smaller parties remains uncertain as they approach the 5% threshold for parliamentary representation.