Friedrich Merz

My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA.

We need to resolve these problems... then that party, the AfD, will disappear.

I will never work with the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

It is clear that the Americans, at any case the Americans in this administration, do not care much about the fate of Europe.

Strengthen Europe as quickly as possible, so that we achieve independence from the US.

It is clear that the Americans, at least this part of the Americans, this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.

My absolute priority now is really to create unity in Europe.

US interference into the German election was as 'brazen' as anything Moscow would have done.

I will never work with the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party.

US interference into the German election was as brazen as anything Moscow would have done.

Nevertheless, I hope that we can convince the Americans that it is in our mutual interest that we continue to have good trans-Atlantic relations.

The world out there isn't waiting for us, and it isn't waiting for long-drawn-out coalition talks and negotiations.

The world out there isn’t waiting for us.

My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve real independence from the USA, step by step

The AfD is not going to get into government. I think that is a very important message to send.

Europe needs to move fast and become independent from the United States.

I’d look to France and Britain to form a European nuclear umbrella, to replace US nuclear guarantees.

We are under such massive pressure from two sides that my absolute priority now really is to create unity in Europe.

I would never have thought that I would have to say something like this in a TV show but, after Donald Trump's remarks last week... it is clear that this government does not care much about the fate of Europe.

I will never work with the AfD.

Cooperating with the second-placed Alternative for Germany, or AfD, was completely out of the question.

Washington’s interventions were no less dramatic and drastic and ultimately outrageous than the interventions we have seen from Moscow.

The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and drastic and ultimately outrageous than the interventions we have seen from Moscow. So we are under such massive pressure from two sides that my absolute priority now is really to…

The world out there isn’t waiting for us, and it isn’t waiting for long-drawn-out coalition talks and negotiations.

The most important thing is to reestablish a viable government in Germany as quickly as possible.