Leader of German election-winning party pledges to make Europe independent from America
The leader of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), Friedrich Merz, pledged to make Europe independent from the US, making strengthening the EU an absolute priority.
According to Reuters, Friedrich Merz - leader of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), who is about to become the next German chancellor, after his conservative opposition party won the parliamentary election on February 23. Mr. Merz pledged to help Europe "truly independent" from the United States, as he prepared to form a new government.
Mr Merz, 69, is facing complex and protracted coalition talks after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party surged to second place for the first time in its history in a divisive vote.
Political parties have ruled out cooperation with the AfD, which has received support from many prominent American figures, including tech billionaire Elon Musk, a major ally of President Donald Trump.
Mr. Merz – who is preparing to become the new German Chancellor, will soon have to face the context of Europe's largest economy facing many difficulties, society divided over immigration issues and security caught between "an aggressive America and an assertive Russia and China".
Coalition leader Friedrich Merz took aim at the US in outspoken remarks after his victory, criticising "utterly absurd" comments coming from Washington during the campaign, comparing them to Russian interference.
"So we are under a lot of pressure from both sides, so my top priority now is to achieve unity in Europe. To be able to create unity in Europe," Mr. Merz said at a roundtable meeting with other leaders.
Mr Merz's criticism of the US came despite President Donald Trump welcoming the election results in Germany.
"Like the United States, the German people are tired of the unreasonable agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has existed for many years," President Trump commented on Truth Social.
Mr Merz said President Trump was showing his administration was “largely indifferent to the fate of Europe” and argued that Mr Trump had been seen as an Atlanticist.
“The absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can gradually gain real independence from the United States,” Mr. Merz added.
He even questioned whether the next summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would still see "NATO in its current form."
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