German conservative leader Friedrich Merz declared victory and support for the far-right surged in a national election, creating a fractured political landscape and uncertain odds for strengthening Europe at a perilous time.
Merz’s center-right conservatives had 28.6% of the vote while the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, had 20.8%, its best showing yet, according to final results on Monday from Germany's federal election authority.
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