One of the focal points of the AfD campaign was to speak out against the high numbers of illegals and refugees the nation has absorbed over the past decade and a string of terrorist 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.
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 conservative party since World War II.
Merz said on election night that he hopes to form a government by Easter at the latest. He has ruled out a coalition with the far-right AfD. For the time being, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democratic party suffered a major blow, will stay on as head of a caretaker government.
