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.

Who is Friedrich Merz? Germany’s election winner - With Germany's election results in, Friedrich Merz emerges as a key figure who has promised to reshape Europe-US relations

German nationals are heading to the ballots on February 23, with the country's current Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, down in opinion polls. The leader's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are trailing in third place, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ahead of his party in second.