Friedrich Merz is on course to become post-World War II Germany’s 10th chancellor, the culmination of a yearslong political career that was once sidelined by his party’s iconic leader

Germany's mainstream conservatives have won the country's national election, while a far-right party surged to become the country's second-largest party.

German's Friedrich Merz has pledged to achieve "independence" from the United States after his centre-right alliance won parliamentary elections. Merz faces complex negotiations with smaller parties to form a government after ruling out cooperation with the second-placed hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).