Friedrich Merz, poised to become Germany’s next chancellor after his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won nearly 29% of the vote in Sunday’s federal elections, has vowed to “achieve independence from the U.S.A.” in response to President Donald Trump’s indifference towards Europe. The snap election, triggered by the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s coalition government in November, saw a record voter turnout of 83.5%, the highest since German reunification in 1990.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made historic gains, securing around 21% of the vote and becoming the second-largest political force in the country, nearly doubling its result from four years ago. Immigration, crime, inflation, unemployment and the war in Ukraine were key issues driving support for the populist, Eurosceptic party, which now leads in eastern Germany. A series of attacks involving immigrants, including one on 13 February in Munich that caused dozens of injuries, further fuelled the AfD’s rise.
Merz, a traditionally pro-American politician and former Blackrock executive, said during a discussion on broadcaster ARD that strengthening Europe was his “absolute priority” so that it could achieve independence from the US. He questioned the future of NATO and suggested an independent European defence capability might be necessary, citing “interference” from both Washington and Moscow in the German election campaign. German security officials have accused Russian actors of spreading disinformation online with fabricated videos claiming election fraud.
Despite Merz’s criticism, Trump welcomed the CDU’s victory, posting on his social network Social Truth that it was “a great day for Germany and the United States of America.” Merz has rejected forming a coalition with the AfD, which remains a pariah in Germany’s political establishment, but the party has won strong support from the Trump administration, with Elon Musk championing it as the only party “that can save Germany.”
Merz faces significant challenges beyond US relations, including Germany’s economic decline, inflation, immigration pressures and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, such as the end of cheap Russian gas. His extensive ties to the business world, including his role as supervisory board chairman of Blackrock Germany from 2016 to 2020, may influence his administration as he navigates these issues.
