Friedrich Merz calls for greater independence from the USA after election win in Germany

Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next chancellor, has called for greater independence from the USA in his first speech after winning the elections. He criticized U.S. President Donald Trump and questioned the future of NATO. Merz's conservative bloc won 28.6% of the vote, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) received 20.8%. He will begin coalition talks with the center-left Social Democrats, as mainstream parties refuse to work with the AfD. The election results reflect a divided society, with Merz facing challenges in addressing migration and security issues amid tensions with the U.S., Russia, and China.