ieExplains: What we learned from the German election

After the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s three-party government in November, it is now up to Friedrich Merz to restore stability to the European Union’s most populous country and traditional political heavyweight, which also has the continent’s biggest economy

Friedrich Merz (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

Germany faces its second change of leader in fewer than four years after the head of the centre-right opposition, Friedrich Merz, won Sunday’s election, which saw a surge for a far-right party and a stinging defeat for outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz.

After the collapse of Mr Scholz’s three-party government in November, it is now up to Mr Merz to restore stability to the European Union’s most populous country and traditional political heavyweight, which also has the continent’s biggest economy.