Germany's Chancellor-elect Merz seeks coalition government and aims to reduce US reliance

Friedrich Merz, the new Chancellor-elect of Germany, plans to form a coalition government after his conservative party won the recent election. This follows the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, with the far-right Alternative for Germany party gaining significant support. Merz aims to reduce Germany's reliance on the United States, criticizing U.S. comments during the campaign. He emphasizes the need for European unity amid tensions with both the U.S. and Russia. His party received 28.5% of the vote, while the AfD secured 20.5%. Coalition talks will be challenging for Merz, as his party achieved its second-worst post-war result. The Social Democrats fell to 16.5%, and other smaller parties' roles remain uncertain. Voter turnout was high at 83%, indicating strong public engagement.