Merz calls for European solidarity, warns against 'America first' Germany's probable next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, whose conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) emerged from Sunday's election as the largest party,

Merz expressed concern over changing relations with Washington under the Trump administration, emphasizing the need for gradual independence from the U.S.

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.