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3mo ago

Friedrich Merz Secures German Election Victory as Far-Right AfD Surges

Merz, leader of the CDU, faces coalition talks and vows to strengthen Europe while the far-right AfD becomes Germany’s main opposition party.

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Friedrich Merz, right, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and Markus Soeder, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), shake hands at the CDU party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)
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Overview

  • Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won 28.6% of the vote, making him Germany's likely next chancellor and ending Olaf Scholz’s tenure as chancellor.
  • The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) doubled its vote share to 20.8%, becoming the second-largest party and securing its strongest result since its founding in 2013.
  • Merz has pledged to prioritize European defense independence, signaling a shift away from reliance on U.S. security under NATO following Donald Trump’s recent policy changes.
  • The CDU will likely form a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD), who suffered their worst post-war election result with 16.4% of the vote.
  • AfD's rise has intensified debates over immigration, German identity, and EU relations, with concerns about its links to far-right extremism and anti-democratic rhetoric.