Friedrich Merz wins German chancellorship as coalition talks loom

Friedrich Merz will be Germany's next chancellor after his conservative alliance won about 29% of the vote in a snap election. He faces challenges in forming a coalition government, needing support from one or two other parties. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) received 16.4%, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured nearly 20%. The Greens and the leftist Die Linke also gained votes, complicating coalition negotiations for Merz. Merz's proposed tax cuts may face opposition from potential coalition partners, particularly the SPD and Greens, who favor higher taxes on the wealthy. Coalition talks are expected to be complex amid rising political tensions.