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

Donald Trump wants to reckon with a world shaped only by great powers and their supplicants, and to behave like the greatest power of them all.

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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 conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won the elections, securing over 28% of the vote, while the far-right AfD gained over 20%. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD suffered a historic low with 16%.

Europe must seek to “achieve independence” from the United States, Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said after his opposition conservatives won elections on Sunday, in a vote that also saw surging support for the far-right.

Germany’s conservative election winner Friedrich Merz says Europe must boost its own defence capabilities amid growing US-Europe tensions over Ukraine and NATO funding.

Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the results “bitter” for his center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), which suffered a significant loss.

The conservative party in Germany dominated elections during the weekend, with Friedrich Merz poised to become the nation's next chancellor.