Friedrich Merz has vowed to prioritize European unity and the continent's security as it grapples with the new Trump administration and Russia's war on Ukraine​.

The leader of the conservative Christian Democrats celebrated as exit polls indicated they had won Sunday’s election, which had the highest voter turnout in decades.

The CDU/CSU was led to victory on Sunday by the towering Friedrich Merz, who has never served in the German government until now. Here is what to know.