Friedrich Merz set to become Germany's new chancellor as CDU wins election

Friedrich Merz is set to become Germany's new chancellor after the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won the recent election. The ruling Social Democrats are declining, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is gaining support. Merz has a strong business background and a firm stance on asylum-seekers. He previously lost to Angela Merkel in 2002 but returned to politics in 2022 as CDU leader. He aims to strengthen Europe's security and has suggested Germany should discuss nuclear defense with France and the UK. Merz believes Germany should take a leading role in European affairs.