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Merz’s Conservative alliance secured the highest votes in a high-stakes German elections held on Sunday, bringing him into the pole position of becoming the next Chancellor.
Friedrich Merz sharply criticised the Trump administration amid tensions over the Ukraine war and US-Europe tensions. (Reuters)
Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s conservative CDU-CSU alliance, said Europe must boost its own defence capabilities as tensions grow between the United States and European leaders over the Ukraine conflict and NATO funding.
Merz’s remarks came after his conservative alliance was projected as the winner in the high-stakes German elections held on Sunday, polling between 28.5 and 29% of votes, as per exit polls. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came second with 19.5 to 20% votes.
“My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve, step by step, real independence from the US,” said Merz, who is likely to replace Olaf Scholz as the next German Chancellor, in sharp criticism of the Trump administration.
„Mein Eindruck der letzten Tage ist, dass Russland und Amerika zueinander finden – über die Köpfe der #Ukraine hinweg und damit auch über die Köpfe Europas hinweg. Deswegen gucken jetzt auch alle auf Deutschland. Wie schnell sind die Deutschen nach diesem komplizierten…— Friedrich Merz (@_FriedrichMerz) February 23, 2025
“After Donald Trump’s statements in the last week it is clear that the Americans – at least this administration – are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe,” Merz said in a TV debate with other top candidates after the exit poll results.
‘No Illusions About America’
Merz said he had “no illusions at all about what is coming out of America” as he is set to join other leaders to chart a new European approach to defence as confrontations with US President Donald Trump increase.
“I’m very curious to see how we would be heading towards the NATO summit at the end of June, whether we’ll even still be talking about NATO in its current form or whether we need to establish independent European defence capabilities much more quickly,” he said.
Trump sent shock waves across Europe when he declared his readiness to resume diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin and negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine without the involvement of European nations or Kyiv.
Merz also criticised “recent interventions in the German election campaign” by Elon Musk, US tech billionaire and key Trump ally who lent strong support to the far-right AfD. “The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and impertinent than the interventions we have seen from Moscow, so we are under massive pressure from two sides,” he said.
Meanwhile, US President Trump called the victory of the German conservative alliance “a great day for Germany and the United States”. Taking to his Truth Social platform, he said, “Much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has prevailed for so many years.”
(with agency inputs)
- Location :
Berlin, Germany
