The conservative opposition led by Friedrich Merz secured a narrow victory in the crucial 2025 German federal election. Meanwhile, the far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), achieved a historic political milestone by doubling i𓆏ts support since World War II.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) conceded defeat following a “bitter election result,” as projections from ARD and ZDF public television r🌄evealed that Merz’s Union bloc won around 28.5 per cent of the vote.
Meanwhile, the far-right AfD surged to 20.5 per cent—a dramatic increase from the 10.3 per cent they receꦅived in 2021. The SPD, suffering its worst post-WWII election result, secured just over 16 per cent, marking its lowest-ever performance in a national parliamentary election.
More than 59 million eligible voters in Germany elected 630 members of the Bundestag, the country’s lower house of parliament, in a deeply polarised election on Sunday. Th♎e election was held ahead of schedule after Scholz’s coalition government collapsed in November 2024.
With widespread dissatisfactiꦜon with the government and l🧸ow enthusiasm for candidates, economic stagnation, and immigration issues took centre stage during the campaign. Voters also expressed concerns about the future of Ukraine and European unity.
Merz faces coalition challenges after victory
Although Merz’s Union bloc emerged victorious, f✤orming a stable government remains a challenge. With no party achieving a clear majority, coalition talks will be crucial. Scholz’s SPD and the Greens, who remain significant political forces, could play key roles in any coalition, while the hard-left Left Party also gained traction with up to 9 per cent of the vote. The pro-business Free Democrats, part o﷽f the collapsed coalition, faced the possibility of losing their seats with just 4.5 per cent.
Merz, who aims to form a new coalition by Easter, emphasised the urgency of establishing a stable gove𒉰rnment for Germany’s future. He acknowledged the difficulty of coalition negotiations but stressed the need for swift action in an unstable global political environment.
Far-Right AfD doubles support since WWII
The most significant development in this election was AfD’s historic rise. The far-right party, which has capitalided on concerns about immigration and nationalism, now stands as a key player in Germany’s political scene. AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla declared their result “historic,” 📖claiming that the party had become Germany’s new political center. The party’s candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, expressed openness to coalition tal🐲ks with Merz’s Union bloc.
However, Merz has firmly rejected any potential coope𒉰ration with AfD, citing significant ideological differences, especially regarding foreign policy, security, and Europe. This creates a political stalemate, as AfD’s growi💛ng support will force the Union bloc to navigate new alliances and coalitions to form a viable government.
(With agency inputs)
