German Election Exposes Deep East-West Divides as Conservatives Take Power

Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU emerges victorious, while far-right AfD surges in the East, reshaping Germany's political landscape.

• The CDU/CSU led by Friedrich Merz won the most votes in Germany's national election, positioning Merz to become the next chancellor.
• The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved its best-ever result with over 20% of the vote, dominating in eastern Germany and expanding into urban areas like Dresden and Leipzig.
• The Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens suffered historic losses, with the SPD dropping to 16.4%, its lowest national result ever, and the Greens falling to 11%.
• Die Linke (The Left) exceeded expectations with 9% of the vote, driven by strong support from young and urban voters, including first-time voters and women.
• Merz's plans for stricter migration policies, including potential negotiations with the Taliban, have sparked concerns about human rights implications, particularly for Afghan women.

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