BERLIN, Feb 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany’s next leader, Friedrich Merz, has issued a stark warning to Europe that the United States has become “largely indifferent” to the continent’s fate and it must become independent.
He also criticised interference from US officials in Sunday’s election, which his conservative CDU party won, after the Trump administration and Elon Musk supported the far-right AfD.
Merz told a roundtable TV discussion on Sunday night that his “absolute priority” would be to “strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve real independence from the US step by step”.
The result was however hailed by President Trump, who posted on social media that it was “a great day for Germany”.
As Germany absorbs the results of Sunday’s election, attention will now turn to the formation of a new government.
Coalition forming is the norm for Germany and if the biggest party can secure a coalition deal with one or two other parties, the president will usually nominate its leader as chancellor.
Then parliament will hold a secret ballot to decide. Today, election winner Friedrich Merz will want to discuss the next steps on the way to forming a government with the leadership of his Christian Democrats party and plans to hold a news conference this afternoon.
The Social Democrats, whose chancellor Olaf Scholz was voted out of office, will also meet this morning for consultations.
Among other things, they are likely to discuss the new personnel line-up announced by party leader Lars Klingbeil on election night.
Scholz, Klingbeil and party co-leader Saskia Esken have also called a press conference for later today. — NNN-AGENCIES
