A former BlackRock Germany chair and amateur pilot, Merz is widely expected to become the next chancellor. He has promised to revitalise Germany’s stagnant economy, but his alignment with the far-right on migration has alienated potential coalition partners.

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.

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.