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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Politics

Germany’s Merz calls for ‘independence’ from US as conservatives win vote

Friedrich Merz Germany Donald Trump United States AFD Alternative for Germany Democratic Party CDU Greens SDP
Friedrich Merz, the candidate of the mainstream conservative Christian Democratic Union party, addresses supporters at the party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, on February 23, 2025 [Markus Schreiber/AP]

Germany’s Friedrich Merz has pledged to achieve “independence” from the United States after his centre-right alliance won parliamentary elections held amid doubts about US President Donald Trump’s commitment to Europe’s security.

Merz, who faces complex negotiations with his party’s traditional centre-left rival to form a coalition government after ruling out the second-placed hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), said on Sunday that it would be his “absolute priority” to strengthen Europe so it does not have to rely on Washington for its defence.

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