Conservatives win German election

Berlin, Feb. 25: Germany's mainstream conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won Germany's national election, ensuring that Ukraine has an even stronger supporter in the European Union's largest country and creating hopes for renewal in an economic powerhouse that has been badly battered in recent years.

The far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to become the nation's second-largest political force, gaining from a backlash against the high numbers of migrants and refugees the nation has absorbed over the past decade and a string of extremist attacks that has shaken its sense of security.

Merz, who is promising to unite Europe in the face of challenges from both Russia and the United States, is expected to become the country's next leader.

His first comments Monday after his party became the highest vote-getter in national elections were words of support for Ukraine, which is marking the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. "Europe stands unwaveringly by Ukraine's side," Merz posted on X. "Now more than ever, it holds true: We must put Ukraine in a position of strength."

"For a just peace, the attacked country must be part of peace negotiations," Merz added, in an apparent rebuke of the Trump administration, which has begun talks with Russia on ending the war that have so far cut out Ukraine and Europe.

Merz will likely partner with the center-left Social Democrats, who suffered a stinging defeat after their coalition collapsed. But the results were seen a rebuke for mainstream parties as AfD notched its best results ever — and the strongest for a far-right party since World War II.

The campaign was dominated by worries about large-scale migration, with Merz also vowing a tough approach, as well as the yearslong stagnation of Europe's biggest economy. The markets welcomed the victory of the fiscally conservative party, with stocks in major German companies rising Monday morning on hopes for a stable coalition government that could end policy gridlock and tackle the country's economic problems.(AP)