Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is anticipated to have won Sunday’s election, with exit polls pointing to Friedrich Merz as the next chancellor. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) saw significant gains, taking second place.
Friedrich Merz has long opposed former chancellor Angela Merkel. He has pledged stricter immigration policies and is set to replace Olaf Scholz, who will continue as caretaker chancellor until a new coalition is finalized. Merz hopes to form a coalition by Easter, though this process often takes time in Germany.
Merz will likely approach the Social Democrats (SPD) to secure a majority government. However, the SPD’s poor performance in the election could complicate their involvement. The Greens, who secured at least 12% of the vote, may also be part of the negotiations, though the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the CSU, has opposed this idea so far.
Smaller parties could play a key role, as many are hovering near the 5% minimum needed to enter the Bundestag. This includes the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), which could be a potential partner for Merz to build a majority. The final results may also hinge on the performance of far-left parties during the official count.
The AfD, which has traditionally held strong support in former East Germany, made notable progress in western areas. Projections suggest the party could secure around 20.5% of the vote, which is its best performance to date.
Despite this, Merz has ruled out cooperation with the AfD, reaffirming Germany’s long-standing policy of avoiding alliances with far-right groups.
Merz has emphasized the need to address voter concerns that have contributed to the AfD’s rise, warning that failure to do so could lead to even stronger support for the far right in the future.
Political analyst Michael Broening echoed this sentiment, urging mainstream parties to tackle issues like economic stagnation, immigration, and voter frustration. He noted that this might be the last chance for traditional parties to rebuild public trust.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social, calling the CDU’s win a “great day for Germany” and claiming it reflected voter discontent with policies lacking “common sense.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed optimism about working with Merz and stressed the importance of stronger European defence initiatives.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen congratulated Merz, noting Germany’s leadership is central to Europe’s strength.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated X, looking forward to closer ties with Merz’s government.
