Merz prioritizes Ukraine and US, vows to tackle migration and economy after German election win BERLIN (AP) — Provisional results confirm that mainstream conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won Germany's national election,

People hold signs in support of German conservative candidate for chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz, during the 2025 general election, at the CDU party headquarters in Berlin,

Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), speaks during a news conference at the headquarters of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.

Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union is expected to be Germany's next chancellor. Rob Schmitz is NPR's international correspondent based in Berlin, where he covers the human stories of a vast region reckoning with its past while it tries to guide the world toward a brighter future.

Friedrich Merz leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), receives flowers as he arrives for a leaders meeting at the CDU's headquarters, in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Feb.

BERLIN — Germany’s conservatives won the national election on Sunday but a fractured vote handed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) its best ever result in second place and left conservative leader Friedrich Merz facing messy coalition talks.

People watch a tv discussion with Friedrich Merz, leader of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), at a pub in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, after the German national

Friedrich Merz, the candidate of the mainstream conservative Christian Democratic Union party, gestures while addressing supporters at the party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025,

The likely next chancellor is unpopular, and his country’s economy has stalled. But his penchant for risks could help lead to a European showdown with President Trump.