Watch the trailer for 'Merkel,' a documentary about Germany's historic chancellor, Angela Merkel, who ruled for 16 years.

From Danijel Višević, General Partner, World Fund, Former communications adviser to chancellor Angela Merkel, Berlin, Germany

Former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, left, and her husband Joachim Sauer attend the state commemoration ceremony in memory of the former German President Horst Koehler, who died on Feb.

Friedrich Merz, a conservative rival of Angela Merkel, is on track to become the next chancellor, though the far-right AfD is expected to make historic gains.

For years, Germany’s business model was based on cheap energy fueling production of industrial goods for export. In 2011, then-Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to hasten the end of nuclear power use in Germany while relying on gas from Russia to bridge the gap as the country moved away from coal generation and toward renewable energy.

For years, Germany's business model was based on cheap energy fueling production of industrial goods for export. In 2011, then-Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to hasten the end of nuclear power use in Germany while relying on gas from Russia to bridge the gap as the country moved away from coal generation and toward renewable energy.

Friedrich Merz, the man favored by early exit polls to be Germany’s next chancellor after elections Sunday, was forced out of government years ago in a power struggle with Angela Merkel. The leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union,

Who do I call if I want to speak to Europe?” The question was famously attributed to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and refers to the historical inability of the political entity of Europe to coordinate on a united front in the global arena.

EXCLUSIVE: As Germany is set to get a new chancellor, an acclaimed documentary examines the leadership and legacy of a previous chancellor – Angela Merkel. The former head of the Christian Democratic Union,

When Elon Musk posted on X in December that the only thing that could “save Germany” was the AfD, he was embracing a political force that has moved steadily to the extreme right since it was founded in 2013.

Friedrich Merz — the leader of the victorious Christian Democratic Union-Christian Social Union alliance — is a U.S.-loving former lawyer but he may clash with President Donald Trump, as Merz is a fierce defender of Europe and NATO.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has congratulated conservative leader Friedrich Merz on his victory in Sunday's parliamentary election. A spokeswoman for Merkel told the Funke media group on Monday that she texted Merz to offer her congratulations and wish him good luck in building a coalition.