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.

Germany faces its second change of leader in less than four years after the head of the center-right opposition won Sunday’s election

The conservative party in Germany dominated elections during the weekend, with Friedrich Merz poised to become the nation's next chancellor.