Germany’s conservatives win election as far-right AfD leaps to second place, exit polls show

Ahsan Ali February 27, 2025

The latest German federal election results, based on exit polls, reveal significant shifts in the political landscape:

CDU/CSU Victory: The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian ally, the Christian Social Union (CSU), secured the largest share of votes at 28.5%. This positions Friedrich Merz, the CDU's lead candidate, to potentially replace Olaf Scholz as Germany’s next chancellor.
AfD Surge: The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made a notable leap, coming in second with 20% of the vote. This marks a major rise for the party amid increasing right-wing populism across Europe.
SPD Decline: Chancellor Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) saw a sharp drop in support, finishing in third place with only 16.5%, marking a significant setback after their 2021 win.

The election follows the collapse of the previous governing coalition between the SPD, the Green Party, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). This resulted from fundamental disagreements over economic policies, which played a crucial role in the breakdown.

Key challenges for the new government will include addressing Germany's economic slowdown, migration debates, and a rising far-right. These will shape future coalitions, particularly as smaller parties play a crucial role in forming a majority government.

The AfD’s rise reflects broader European political shifts, potentially complicating Germany's relationship with its neighbors and the United States, especially on issues like trade and the war in Ukraine.