Germany's Friedrich Merz wins election and seeks greater independence from US

Friedrich Merz's conservative party won over 28% of the vote in Germany's recent elections, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained more than 20%. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party suffered a historic defeat with just 16%. Merz plans to shift Germany's security policies, aiming for greater independence from the United States. He criticized the current U.S. administration's indifference toward Europe and expressed the need to strengthen European unity. Voter turnout reached 84%, the highest since reunification in 1990. The election results reflect a significant rightward shift in German politics, driven by rising anti-immigrant sentiments.