Friedrich Merz, whose conservative party is ahead in polls before Sunday’s election, sees an “epochal rupture” with a United States that is more aligned with Russia.

Friedrich Merz, who is poised to become Germany's chancellor in a CDU-led government, has extensive experience as a lawyer and working with major corporations.

German voters go to the polls on February 23 to elect a new parliament that will determine how the country is run for the next four years. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks to Ed Turner, Chair of the International Association for the Study of German Politics and Co-Director of the Aston Centre for Europe.