Merz advocates for independence from US after conservative victory

Monday 24 February 2025 - 09:50

Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has called for greater European autonomy following his alliance’s success in the parliamentary elections. The call comes amid increasing concerns over the U.S. under President Donald Trump and its commitment to Europe’s security.

Merz emphasized that his priority would be to fortify Europe’s defense capabilities, ensuring the continent does not rely on the U.S. for its security. Reflecting on Trump’s recent remarks, Merz expressed that the U.S. government seemed indifferent to Europe’s future. He warned that NATO might not exist in its current form and called for a quicker development of an independent European defense system.

Merz also criticized U.S. tech mogul Elon Musk, a Trump ally, for interfering in Germany’s election campaign by supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which saw a dramatic increase in votes.

The CDU/CSU alliance won 208 seats in the Bundestag with 28.6% of the vote, followed by AfD with 152 seats. The Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, took 120 seats, marking its worst election result since WWII. The Greens and other parties also secured seats in the new parliament.

Despite his success, Merz faces the challenge of forming a coalition government, needing support from the SDP or other parties to achieve a majority. He expressed urgency in forming a functional government to address the pressing issues facing Germany and Europe.