German conservative leader Friedrich Merz, the country's presumptive next chancellor, is not expected to accompany outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz to a special EU summit in Brussels next month. Merz does not need a "government internship" or "hand-holding" ahead of taking power in Berlin,

Germany faces its second change of leader in fewer than four years after the head of the center-right opposition, Friedrich Merz, won Sunday's election, which saw a surge for a far-right party and a stinging defeat for outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

When Donald Trump won the US election in November, Germany’s government imploded. Chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked his finance minister, collapsed his dysfunctional coalition government and blew a gaping hole in the leadership of the EU.