By Madeline Chambers and Miranda Murray
BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany’s election winner Friedrich Merz warned the United States on Monday against turning its back on allies but also urged Europeans to build up their own defence capabilities, saying it was now “five minutes to midnight for Europe”.
His comments underscored the turmoil engulfing the transatlantic alliance since the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump and fears he could strike a deal with Russia over Ukraine while Kyiv and Europe just watch from the sidelines.
Merz’s conservatives are looking to quickly form a government after winning a national election on Sunday but face tricky coalition talks and the prospect of an obstructive parliament after far-right and far-left parties surged.
Time is pressing for Europe’s ailing largest economy. German businesses are demanding help to remain globally competitive, society is split over migration and the new government must also deal with a confrontational Trump administration threatening tariffs as well as a hostile Russia and an assertive China.
“And what we also see with the greatest concern, of course, is the attempt (by Trump) to make a deal with Russia on Ukraine over the heads of the Europeans, over the heads of Ukraine,” Merz told a press conference.
“It will come as no surprise to you when I say that this is unacceptable both for Ukraine and for Europe,” Merz said, adding it would be difficult if those who put “America First” actually made their motto “America Alone”.
His conservative bloc wants to ally with Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), who came in third, after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to a historic second place.
But Merz’s bid for an alliance with the SPD comes after a bruising campaign that highlighted deep policy divisions, in particular over migration. The SPD, smarting from its worst post-war result, may set a high price for any deal.
The AfD and the radical Left Party jointly secured one third of seats in the new parliament, enough to block constitutional changes needed to loosen state borrowing limits – changes that some economists say are crucial to revive the flagging economy.
DEBT BRAKE
Merz said he was in talks with other parties to reform the debt brake that restricts borrowing, even before the new parliament is officially sworn in. He would also sound out allies about creating another special off-budget fund to raise defence spending.
However, a resurgent Left party and the AfD may wield a blocking minority in parliament that could stymie any increase in defence spending needed to shore up European security.
The Left said on Monday it wants more borrowing but its support will hinge on the cash not being used for rearmament. Both the AfD and the Left oppose military aid to Ukraine.
“Friedrich Merz must brace himself now,” said Left co-leader Jan van Aken.
Hitherto known as an Atlanticist, Merz again on Monday questioned the reliability of the United States as an ally, adding: “This really is five minutes to midnight for Europe.”
On Sunday Merz had criticised what he called “outrageous” comments from the Trump administration during the election campaign, comparing them to hostile interventions from Moscow.
He also warned Washington not to create divisions by offering preferential tariffs to some European Union members.
In another bold move on Monday, Merz invited Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Germany in defiance of an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Merz’s conservative CDU/CSU bloc took first place in Sunday’s election with 28.5% – their second worst result of the postwar era – while the AfD won 20.8%, its best ever result, according to provisional results.
However, mainstream parties rule out working with the AfD, a party which is monitored by German security services on suspicion of extremism but has been endorsed by U.S. figures including billionaire Elon Musk.
TOUGH TALKS AHEAD
Merz, who has no previous experience in office, aims to have a government by Easter, though the SPD warned its support was not a given.
In the election campaign, Merz promised a radical crackdown on immigration, saying he would not compromise on the issue. He drew sharp SPD criticism for pushing a parliamentary resolution on migration last month with support from the AfD.
The move was seen by critics as an unforgivable breach of a political quarantine to keep the AfD out of power. SPD politicians said they could no longer trust Merz as a result.
Analysts say the pressure is on for the next coalition to come together quickly to hold its own against the Trump administration, and to fend off the AfD by showing that mainstream parties can address voters’ concerns.
If it does not, then the 12-year-old AfD, which is set to be the largest opposition party in the Bundestag, could be a frontrunner for the next elections set for 2029.
Musk reaffirmed his support for the party on Monday, predicting on X that the AfD “will be the majority party by the next election”.
(Writing by Sarah Marsh, Matthias Williams, Madeline Chambers; Reporting by Kirsti Knolle, Maria Martinez, Madeline Chambers, Sarah Marsh, Andreas Rinke, Miranda Murray in Berlin, Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt, Barbara Erling in Warsaw; Editing by Michael Perry and Gareth Jones)
