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.

Merz expressed concern over changing relations with Washington under the Trump administration, emphasizing the need for gradual independence from the U.S.

Provisional results confirm that mainstream conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won Germany's national election, while a far-right party surged to become the nation’s second-largest

"It is clear that this [the U.S.] government does not care much about the fate of Europe," says Friedrich Merz, who is set to be Germany's next chancellor.

Germany’s economy is stalled and its politics fractured. But it sees an opening for a new chancellor to lead Europe’s response to a changing America.

Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg’s daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union.

Landau an der Isar, Kempten and Pfarrkirchen – these small towns may be unfamiliar to English, and indeed many German, ears. But they could determine the future migration policy of Europe. Who comes out top in a mere handful of constituencies in rural Bavaria in the German general election tomorrow will decide whether the next Berlin government will be serious about controlling immigration.

German conservatives under likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed on Monday to move quickly to try to form a coalition after winning the most votes in a national election that saw far-right and far-left parties gain support from disaffected voters.