Friedrich Merz prepares to lead Germany as new chancellor after election victory

Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's conservative party, is set to become chancellor after his party won the national election. This marks a significant shift as he has never held a government position before. Merz aims to form a coalition government amid economic and diplomatic challenges. His party outperformed the far-right Alternative for Germany, which poses a challenge to his authority. Merz plans to move the party rightward, distancing from former Chancellor Angela Merkel's centrism. He has expressed intentions to address migration and military spending, but faces skepticism about his ability to govern effectively.