French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke to the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz to congratulate him on winning the snap election on Sunday.
"We are more determined than ever to do great things together for France and for Germany and to work towards a strong and sovereign Europe," Macron wrote on X. "I also had an exchange with @OlafScholz to tell him of my friendship this evening," he added.
"In this period of uncertainty, we are united to face the great challenges of the world and our continent," Macron stressed.