Germany’s Merz marks shift by betting on an EU less dependent on US  
                        
                                                    
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                    Friedrich Merz, who led the Christian Democratic Union to victory at the polls, referred to a strong Europe independent of the United States as his “absolute priority”.  Many in Brussels now expect a more stable government in Berlin will mean a stronger German leadership                                
                            
                        
                        
                                                    
                        
                        
    
    
        
            
            
        
        
    
                        
                            Friedrich Merz, who led the Christian Democratic Union to victory at the polls, referred to a strong Europe independent of the United States as his “absolute priority”.  Many in Brussels now expect a more stable government in Berlin will mean a stronger German leadership