Germany elects new leader as center-right opposition wins election

Germany will have a new leader after Friedrich Merz of the center-right opposition won the recent election. This follows the defeat of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the collapse of his three-party government in November. Merz aims to form a coalition with Scholz's Social Democrats, as their combined seats can secure a majority in parliament. However, they face challenges in reconciling differing economic and migration policies. The far-right Alternative for Germany party gained significant support, achieving its highest postwar vote share. Meanwhile, the Left Party made a surprising comeback, appealing to younger voters with progressive policies.