Friedrich Merz projected to become Germany's next chancellor after CDU/CSU election results

Germany's conservative leader Friedrich Merz is projected to become the next chancellor, according to a supporter. The CDU/CSU bloc won 28.7% of the vote in recent elections, followed by the AfD at 19.8%. Despite being the largest party, the CDU/CSU achieved its second worst result since World War II. Merz will enter coalition talks, facing challenges due to a lack of strong negotiating power. The campaign was marked by violent incidents and involvement from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. The outcome sets the stage for complex negotiations ahead.