Friedrich Merz is poised to become Germany's next chancellor. There's no new government in Germany quite yet, but after Sunday's election, it's all but certain that Friedrich Merz of the conservative Christian Democratic Union will be the next chancellor.

Germany’s Friedrich Merz takes swipe at Trump and calls for ‘independence from the USA’ - Germany’s likely next chancellor has also questioned whether NATO will continue to exist

After his election win on Sunday, Friedrich Merz is set to take charge of Europe’s biggest economy with the US defense umbrella looking shakier than any time since the NATO alliance was founded and Donald Trump discussing the continent’s security with Vladimir Putin.

Friedrich Merz's conservatives triumphed in Germany's elections, obtaining over 28% of the vote, as the far-right AfD gained over 20%. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD suffered a historic defeat with just 16%,

Germany's election winner Friedrich Merz warned the United States on Monday against turning its back on allies but also urged Europeans to build up their own defence capabilities, saying it was now "five minutes to midnight for Europe".

Friedrich Merz, a former banker who has never been a government minister, appears almost certain to be the next chancellor of Germany after his conservative CDU/CSU alliance won the most votes in Sunday’s crucial federal election.

Friedrich Merz, who led the Christian Democratic Union to victory at the polls, referred to a strong Europe independent of the United States as his “absolute priority”. Many in Brussels now expect a more stable government in Berlin will mean a stronger German leadership READ MORE : Subscribe to our channel.