The first numbers from Germany's snap election indicate that the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is poised to reclaim power. The conservative party's headquarters erupted in cheers as the initial exit polls were revealed.
If the current trends hold, it appears that an old-school conservative, Merz, who has never previously held a government position, will likely become Germany's new chancellor. This development is significant for Europe's largest economy and most populous state.
On the other end of the political spectrum, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) seems to have achieved its highest level of support yet, nearly doubling its backing from the previous election in 2021. This surge positions the AfD as a formidable opposition force in Germany.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) is projected to secure third place, marking a notable shift from the 2021 election where it garnered 25.7% of the vote.
The Sahra Wageknecht Alliance (BSW) narrowly missed the 5% threshold required to enter parliament, while The Left party comfortably surpassed this threshold, securing a significant 8.5% of the vote.
