Germany faces its second change of leader in less than four years after the head of the center-right opposition won Sunday’s election.

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.

Merz expressed concern over changing relations with Washington under the Trump administration, emphasizing the need for gradual independence from the U.S.