Sun Feb 23 19:43:21 UTC 2025: ## Merz Projected to Become Germany’s Next Chancellor After CDU Landslandslide Victory

**Berlin, Germany** – Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is poised to become the next German chancellor following a stunning victory in Sunday’s snap election. Exit polls project a CDU/CSU alliance win with at least 28.5 percent of the vote, a significant margin over the incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), which garnered approximately 16 percent.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) also made significant gains, doubling its vote share to at least 19.5 percent, placing it second. Voter turnout was 52 percent by 4 PM.

Merz, a long-time rival of Angela Merkel, celebrated the results, promising a “solid government” and a strong European presence. He has pledged to address immigration and economic policies. However, his past collaboration with the AfD on anti-immigration policies has drawn criticism, although he insists he’s not aligned with their rhetoric and aims to curb their influence.

The AfD, meanwhile, hailed their performance as “historic” and expressed willingness to cooperate with the CDU/CSU. Scholz conceded defeat, acknowledging the SPD’s historically poor showing.

Merz faces the challenge of forming a coalition government. While he’s expected to initially reach out to the SPD, Scholz’s poor showing complicates this. Negotiations with the Greens, who secured at least 12 percent, are also uncertain due to resistance from the CSU. Analysts predict a difficult coalition-building process, potentially leaving Germany in political limbo for weeks. The urgency is heightened by the ongoing Ukraine war and international political shifts.

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