The victory of the Christian Democratic leader in the February 23 German parliamentary elections was met with relief by France, Poland and other members that support a bolder role for the European Union in tackling security and economic challenges.

Merz’s Conservative CDU emerged as the largest party in Sunday’s federal elections, winning 208 seats in the 630-seat German parliament. View on euronews

Incoming German leader will hold high-stakes talks with French president as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump hover over Europe.

A graphic showing European Union (EU) election results in Germany from June 2024 was shared online with false captions saying it showed the outcome of the federal election held in February 2025.

After his election win on Sunday, Friedrich Merz is set to take charge of Europe’s biggest economy with the US defense umbrella looking shakier than any time since the NATO alliance was founded and Donald Trump is discussing the continent’s security with Vladimir Putin.

Such talks often drag on for weeks if not months in Germany, but Merz is in a hurry to reach a deal with Europe's biggest economy facing economic malaise and an upheaval in relations with the U.S.

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

Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to be Germany’s next chancellor, said he’s open to considering common European Union borrowing for defense, a potential game-changer as the bloc responds to Russian aggression and fading US engagement.

French President Emmanuel Macron will dine with Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Wednesday evening, the Elysee said.

The winner of Germany's parliamentary elections has travelled to Paris to meet the French president for a working dinner on Wednesday. #EuropeNews