Mon Feb 24 12:19:08 UTC 2025: ## CDU Wins German Election, Merz Poised to Become Chancellor Amid Far-Right Surge

**Berlin, Germany** – Germany’s national election has resulted in a victory for the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, who is set to become the next chancellor. However, the results reveal a significant shift in the political landscape, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) making substantial gains and becoming the second-largest party.

Provisional results show the CDU/CSU alliance securing 28.6% of the vote and 208 seats in the Bundestag. The AfD surged to 20.8%, a doubling of their 2021 support, and 152 seats, marking their strongest showing since World War II. This represents a significant rise in populist support, particularly in eastern Germany, fueled by concerns about immigration and the European Union.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz suffered a heavy defeat, dropping to third place with 16.4% of the vote and 120 seats. Scholz acknowledged the “bitter” outcome. The Greens and Die Linke (The Left) party also secured seats, receiving 11.6% and 8.8% respectively, while the FDP failed to clear the 5% threshold and will lose all its seats. A new populist left-wing party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), fell just short of parliamentary representation.

Merz, a seasoned politician and lawyer, has pledged to govern “reliably” and push for European independence from the US. He has ruled out a coalition with the AfD, despite their collaboration on an immigration bill earlier this year. His most likely path to forming a government involves a coalition with the SPD. A three-way coalition with the Greens and Die Linke is possible but would likely require significant compromises.

The AfD, celebrating its strong showing, is positioning itself as a mainstream force and has not ruled out future coalition participation. The party’s rise poses a challenge for Merz and underscores the growing influence of far-right populism in German politics. The swift formation of a stable government is crucial given ongoing European security challenges, particularly the war in Ukraine. Merz aims to have a new government in place by Easter.

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