Christian Democrats Lead as far-right AfD Surge
According to two exit polls, Friedrich Merz will be the next German chancellor. His center-right Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) won roughly 30% of votes in Sunday’s historic German elections.
The country’s future is far from secure despite the CDU’s leadership. This is due to the surge of support for the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party (AfD), which will likely come in second place with a record 19,5-20% of votes.
The Social Democrats (SDP), a center-left party, have received 16% of the votes, which is their worst ever result. They are followed by the Greens, with 13.3%; the Left Party with 8.6%; the liberal Free Democratic Party with 4.9%; the left-wing populist BSW with 4.7%, and other parties with 3.9%.
Elections were called after the coalition government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (leader of the SDP) collapsed last year.
The election comes at a time when Germany’s morale is at a historic low after World War Two as it struggles with economic decline, infrastructure challenges, the repercussions from the Ukraine War and the changing international landscape since President Donald Trump came to power.
In this context, there has also been a growing anti-immigrant feeling, which has further been flambed by a number of lone wolf attacks by people born outside the country on civilians, which, in turn, has boosted the support for the AfD.
Merz must form a coalition at least with one other party to gain a majority in Germany’s parliament.
He said that SDP is his preferred partner, but it remains unclear whether this party will be able to garner enough votes to form an alliance and ensure a majority.
AfD has declared its results in the polls are not to be ignored.
Tino Chrupalla, AfD’s co-chairman, said that the performance of the party gave it “a mandate to bring about political changes”. This was shortly after the release of the first exit polls at around 6pm local time.
He said, “We have the confidence of voters. That should be accepted by everyone else as well.”
Merz has, however, vowed not to form a coalition government with the AfD.
Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD, warned Merz Sunday evening not to ignore her party’s results.
She told her supporters: “If the CDU compromises its manifesto, and works with the left, I can assure you, the next elections will be faster than expected and we will surpass the CDU as a major party.”
Merz’s supporters were told that Merz’s priority was to form the coalition as soon as possible after his exit poll victory.
He said, “The outside world will not wait for us.” “Now, we will speak with each other, and we must as quickly as possible form a German government that is capable of working on the basis of majority.”
