• Friedrich Merz's conservative bloc wins the German national election with 28.6% of the vote.
• Merz aims to form a coalition with Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats after a rise in far-right support.
• The election results highlight divisions over migration and call for the need for European independence.

Friedrich Merz, poised to become Germany's next chancellor, is set to commence coalition negotiations after his conservative bloc secured a victory in the national elections held on February 23. Merz's CDU/CSU party garnered approximately 28.6% of the vote, establishing them as the largest faction, but the elections also saw significant gains for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which captured around 20.8%, marking its best performance in history. This election poses challenges for Merz as he attempts to navigate a political landscape complicated by the surge of both far-right and far-left parties, such as the resurgent left party.

With Germany facing economic difficulties and societal divisions particularly around migration, Merz's coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party (SPD)—who finished in third place with 16.5%—are anticipated to be lengthy and complex. Mainstream parties have expressed reluctance to partner with the AfD, which is under surveillance due to concerns about extremism. Merz, who has no prior experience in governance, stated his objective to strengthen Europe and attain "real independence from the USA" amid escalating tensions with both the U.S. and Russia, criticizing Washington's comments during his campaign as "outrageous" Source CN.

Analysts suggest that Merz's administration will need to act swiftly to address pressing issues including migration policies and Germany's role in NATO, especially in light of calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for an increase in military expenditure to bolster European security Source Reuters. Following the previous coalition government's collapse, there is urgency in the current political climate to present leadership capable of effectively engaging with circumstances surrounding Ukraine and the geopolitical stance of nations such as Russia and China.

Merz's commitment to reforming Germany’s policies, particularly the integration of immigrant populations and defense spending, will be defining issues in the discussions ahead. The coalition formation could potentially take several months, with analysts warning that a failure to quickly establish a government may lead to further strengthening of the AfD, potentially altering the political landscape in subsequent elections set for 2029 Source VOANews.

As coalitions are negotiated amidst a backdrop of historic election results, the trajectory of Germany's future relies heavily on the ability of these parties to forge a stable government capable of addressing the increasing demands of its citizens amid rising global challenges.