Campaigning is reaching the final stages in the German snap election, with the leader of the CDU – and frontrunner to be the next Chancellor – pledging to restore Germany to a leadership role in Europe.
The campaign has been dominated by the rise in the far right Alternative for Germany party, the country’s stagnant economy, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and immigration.
The election is taking place against the unprecedented strain in the transatlantic relationship, which seems to become more frayed with each daily utterance from US President Donald Trump.
At an event in Berlin last night, conservative Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz…