Friedrich Merz leads CDU to victory in German elections, set to become new Chancellor

Friedrich Merz is set to become Germany's new Chancellor after his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its ally, the Christian Social Union (CSU), won 28.5% of the votes in the recent elections. This victory surpasses Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD). The CDU/CSU bloc's win marks a significant shift in German politics, as they defeated the SPD, which previously held power. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) followed with 20.7% of the votes. Merz has a long history in politics, joining the CDU in 1972 and serving in various roles, including parliamentary leader. After stepping back from politics in 2009, he built a successful career in law and finance before returning to lead the CDU.