Merz visits Paris to discuss European security with Macron

Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's conservative CDU/CSU bloc, made a surprise visit to Paris to meet President Emmanuel Macron. They discussed European security amid changing U.S. policies on Ukraine, following Merz's electoral success in Germany. Merz's bloc won 28.5% of the vote in the recent German election, securing 208 seats in the Bundestag. However, they fell short of a majority and are considering coalition talks with the Social Democrats, as they rule out working with the far-right AfD party. Merz will not join outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz at an upcoming EU summit in Brussels. Scholz's spokesman stated that Merz does not require guidance before taking office, marking a shift from previous practices after elections.