Germany is set to have a new chancellor, with Friedrich Merz, a businessman and conservative politician, poised to take the helm. The current chancellor’s party is expected to remain in power, albeit with reduced influence. The Trump administration’s attempts to influence the election results seem to have had little impact.

The early election, which was necessitated by the collapse of the country’s governing coalition last year, produced some surprises and considerable uncertainty. It remains unclear whether the next government will be a precarious three-party coalition or a return to the more stable two-party governments that have led Germany for most of the 21st century.

Here are five key takeaways from the election’s outcome:

Merz is likely to become the next chancellor. The center-right Christian Democrats and their sister party, the Christian Social Union, secured the highest number of votes, which almost guarantees that Merz will take the top job.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/world/europe/takeaways-germany-election.html