Germany’s snap parliamentary elections have concluded, bringing historic success to the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD). According to preliminary results, the party secured around 20% of the vote, doubling its previous performance.
AfD leader and chancellor candidate Alice Weidel stated that the party is now the second-strongest political force in the country and aims to surpass the CDU/CSU bloc. “We have never been stronger. We have become the second political force,” she remarked. However, despite its impressive growth, AfD is likely to remain in opposition, as other parties are unwilling to cooperate with it.
The election winner was the CDU/CSU bloc, led by Friedrich Merz, which, according to exit polls, received 29% of the vote, making him the leading candidate for chancellor.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) under Olaf Scholz suffered a crushing defeat, winning only 16% of the vote — the worst result in the party’s 135-year history. The Greens also experienced significant losses, securing around 13%, while the Free Democratic Party (FDP) is teetering on the edge of parliamentary entry.
The key question now is who will form the new ruling coalition. The most likely scenario appears to be an alliance between the CDU/CSU and SPD, as a coalition with the Greens may not secure a majority. A decision on the coalition is expected in the coming weeks.
