Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s centre-right CDU/CSU alliance, has said that Europe should become more independent from the United States. His comments came after his party won the country’s recent parliamentary elections.

Merz is now working to form a coalition government but has ruled out partnering with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merz expressed concerns about US support for Europe, especially after recent comments from former US President Donald Trump.

He said that Europe must be prepared to defend itself without relying too much on the US. Speaking on a TV program, Merz said he was unsure if NATO would remain the same in the coming months. This is why he wants to build a stronger European defense system as a top priority.

Merz also criticized billionaire Elon Musk and the US government for trying to influence Germany’s elections. He compared these actions to interference from Russia. He believes Germany and Europe are facing political pressure from both sides.

In the elections, Merz’s CDU/CSU won 208 seats with 28.6% of the vote. The AfD came second with 152 seats and 20.8% of the vote.

Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) had its worst result since World War II, winning only 120 seats. The Greens, Die Linke, and other left-wing parties also won seats, but none had enough support to challenge the CDU/CSU.

With these results, Merz must now negotiate with other parties to form a government. His main goal is to make Europe more self-reliant, especially in defense and security matters.