Dar es Salaam, Feb. 24 -- BERLIN, GERMAN: PROVISIONAL  results confirmed that mainstream conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won Germanys national election, while a far-right party surged to become the nations second-largest.

The campaign was dominated by worries about the yearslong stagnation of Europes biggest economy and pressure to curb migration, something that caused friction after Merz pushed hard in recent weeks for a tougher approach.

It took place against a background of growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europes alliance with the United States.

The results released by the electoral authority showed Merzs Christian Democrats and the center-left Social Democrats winning a comb...