Austrian Prime Minister Christian Stocker congratulated conservative Friedrich Merz on his election as the tenth principal of modern Germany.
“Congratulations, dear Friedrich Merz was elected Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany!” Stocker wrote in German on X.
He added: “Common boundaries also mean shared responsibility – I look forward to friendly cooperation between us and the government.”
Merz vowed to reject more immigration from the country's borders, including on the southern border with Austria.
Although some observers say the plans violate EU rules, Austria has expressed support for the new German government's plans to tighten asylum policies.
The upcoming German government said the alliance agreement: “We will make a rejection on the common border in the context of asylum applications, in coordination with our European neighbors.”
