Friedrich Merz wins Germany's election and aims to reshape Europe-US relations

Friedrich Merz is set to become Germany's new chancellor after his party, the Christian Democratic Union, won the most seats in the recent election. He has criticized U.S. influence in German politics, calling for greater independence from Washington. Merz, 69, has a long political career, previously serving in the Bundestag and as CDU leader since January 2022. He has shifted from being a pro-American advocate to criticizing U.S. intervention in Germany's elections. He plans to form a coalition government, which will require negotiations. Merz has expressed concerns about U.S. policies under Donald Trump and has called for Europe to strengthen its defenses.