In the preliminary results of Germany’s federal elections, the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) have emerged victorious. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz declared victory after securing nearly 29% of the votes in Sunday’s (February 23) election.
Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) received around 21% of the votes, aligning with exit poll predictions. According to separate reports from Anadolu Agency and Deutsche Welle on Monday (February 24), the CDU/CSU secured 28.5% of the votes in the final count.
On the other hand, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), experienced a significant decline, losing nearly 9% of its previous votes and securing only 16.4%.
Coalition Government Required
No party has won enough votes to form a government alone, making a coalition necessary. The CDU had previously stated that it would not form a government with the AfD. As a result, despite being the second-largest party, the far-right AfD will remain out of the government.
Two coalition possibilities have emerged:
- CDU forming a government with the SPD.
- CDU partnering with the Green Party.
However, CDU leader Friedrich Merz has indicated that coalition discussions will be lengthy.
AfD’s Reaction
The AfD claimed that voters rejected the “firewall” strategy implemented by all other parties against them. As the second-largest party in parliament, AfD stated that they would play an active role in the legislature.
Notably, despite internal differences, all major democratic parties in Germany had agreed before the election that they would not support the far-right AfD, a stance widely discussed as “firewall politics.”
Friedrich Merz Likely to Become Chancellor
Given the current situation, CDU leader Friedrich Merz is likely to become Germany’s next chancellor. He has emphasized the need for Europe to move out from under the influence of U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
French President Emmanuel Macron has congratulated Merz and highlighted the importance of building a strong and sovereign European bloc. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also extended his congratulations, expressing hope for an even stronger UK-Germany relationship under the new government.
Record Voter Turnout
Approximately 60 million people were eligible to vote in this election, and voter turnout was estimated to be around 83-84%, making it a record in Germany’s recent national elections.
This election was held earlier than scheduled due to the collapse of the SPD-led coalition government in November.