Friedrich Merz leads Union bloc to victory and aims for chancellorship in Germany

Friedrich Merz is poised to become Germany's next chancellor after leading the center-right Union bloc to victory with 28.6% of the vote. This marks a significant comeback for Merz, who had been sidelined by former Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merz's political career faced setbacks, including a hiatus from politics after 2009. He returned to lead the Union bloc and is now likely to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats, who have struggled in recent years. During his campaign, Merz focused on strengthening Germany's economy and immigration laws. He faced criticism for a parliamentary motion supported by the far-right AfD party, which sparked protests against his approach to immigration.