Friedrich Merz, a man who has never held a government role, is preparing to take the reins in Germany just as the country faces its biggest economic and diplomatic crises in decades and Europe looks urgently for a new generation of leaders.

Germany's opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday (February 23), putting leader Friedrich Merz on track to be the next chancellor. "Friedrich Merz will be the next chancellor," CDU supporter Eileen Weideler said.

Germans voted for a change of leadership Sunday, handing the most votes in a parliamentary election to centrist conservatives, with the far right in second, and rebuking the nation's left-leaning government for its handling of the economy and immigration.