The Bundestag elections in Germany have concluded, with all polling stations closing at 6:00 PM local time.
According to exit polls, the leading party in the vote is the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) bloc, which has secured 28.5% of the votes. According to preliminary forecasts, the other parties have received the following vote shares:
Alternative for Germany (AfD) — 20%
Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) — 16.5%
Alliance 90/The Greens (Grüne) — 12%
The Left Party (Die Linke) — 9%
Free Democratic Party (FDP) — 5%
Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) — 5%
Voter turnout was high, reaching 52% by 2:00 PM, significantly exceeding the turnout for the 2021 elections. Incumbent German Chancellor Olaf Scholz cast his vote in Potsdam alongside his wife, Britta Ernst, while his main opponent, CDU leader Friedrich Merz, voted in Arnsberg, where he greeted voters.
The elections took place amid economic stagnation, a migration crisis, and uncertainty in foreign policy, including relations with the U.S. and Ukraine.
Analysts suggest that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) could achieve its best result since World War II, reflecting growing support for right-wing forces.
The final election results are expected to be announced in the coming hours, while coalition formation may take several weeks.
