German election winner Friedrich Merz's conservatives and Social Democrats have completed preliminary coalition talks. They aim to finalize their deal to drive economic growth and bolster military spending.

Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor-in-waiting, advocates nuclear talks with France and Britain while maintaining U.S. protection. He calls for stronger European defense amid rising tensions from Russia and plans to form a new coalition.

He has vowed to prioritize European unity and the continent’s security as it grapples with the new Trump administration and Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The first step towards Mr Merz being effective on the European stage is for him to forge a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats at home, a task expected to take several more weeks. But the agreement announced on March 4th was startling in its ambition.

But, although he will not become chancellor for some weeks, Friedrich Merz, who won Germany’s election on February 23rd, has just transformed his country with a stroke of commendable boldness.

The multi-faceted Friedrich Merz promises to be a most indecipherable head of government. Only one thing's for certain: He is willing to take risks. It comes with serious perils, but may be exactly what Germany (and the world) needs right now.

Compared to last October, the vote for the CDU/CSU is down slightly vis a vis the polls, the AfD have not rallied as much as their admirers would have believed.

The likely next chancellor is unpopular, and his country’s economy has stalled. But his penchant for risks could help lead to a European showdown with President Trump.

Germany’s mainstream conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won the country’s national election, ensuring that Ukraine has an even stronger supporter in the European Union’s largest country and

Friedrich Merz, who is set to become the new German chancellor, has vowed to prioritise European unity and the continent’s security as it grapples with the new Trump administration and Russia ...

Who Is Friedrich Merz, the Man on Course to Take Germany's Top Job After Election? BERLIN (AP) — Friedrich Merz, on course to become post-World War II Germany's 10th chancellor after the country ...