German opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s conservatives have won a lackluster victory in a national election Sunday, projections show.
Alternative for Germany nearly doubled its support, the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II.
Merz said he was aware of the dimension of the task he faces to make a governing coalition and said that “it will not be easy.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat for his center-left Social Democrats.
The election was dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy, pressure to curb migration and growing uncertainty over Europe’s alliance with the United States.
