Germany's mainstream conservatives have won the country's national election, while a far-right party surged to become the country's second-largest party.

Germany's businesses have been frustrated by government inaction on the stagnating economy. Sunday's national election raises hopes of a stable two-party coalition of conservatives and center-left Social Democrats,

Germany's incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said an 'absolute priority' for him will be to distance Europe from the U.S. following comments by President Donald Trump.

The party led by Friedrich Merz won the country's national election; the primary voter issues were the economy and immigration

Germany’s political system is set up to exclude extremists. Yet the country is waking up to a new political reality that has lurched to the right with the once outcast Alternative for Germany (AfD) party now firmly established in German politics.

Germany's conservatives won the national election on Sunday, while the far-right Alternative for Germany came in second, its best ever result.