Friedrich Merz, left, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), stand next to Secretary General Carsten Linnemann, right, after he receives flowers at the CDU's headquarters, in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
BERLIN (AP) — Germany faces its second change of leader in fewer than four years after the head of the center-right opposition, Friedrich Merz, won Sunday's election, which saw a surge for a far-right party and a stinging defeat f