Friedrich Merz on course to lead Germany after election and vows to unite Europe

Friedrich Merz (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Friedrich Merz, who is set to become the new German chancellor, has vowed to prioritise European unity and the continent’s security as it grapples with the new Trump administration and Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Mr Merz’s task will be complicated by the need to form a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats of outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz.