Germany’s likely chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the rise of the far-right AfD party is a “final warning” to democratic parties.
Mr Merz, leader of the centre-right conservative party, is set to become Germany’s new chancellor after provisional results confirmed his mainstream conservatives had won the national election.
The AfD surged to become the nation’s second-largest party – the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II.
Speaking at a press conference following his victory, Mr Mertz said that the fact the AfD has doubled its vote share in percentage terms is a "real warning bell, a real alarm bell for the political parties of the centre in Germany to come up with shared solutions".
Merz has said he wants to build a coalition with the outgoing chancellors’ Olaf Scholz’ centre-left party SDP.
Mr Merz, leader of the centre-right conservatives, hopes to start talks “in the coming days”.
The conservatives won 208 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag, while the AfD won 152. The three parties in the former governing coalition lost seats, with the center-left Social Democrats falling to 120 seats and the Greens to 85.
Key Points
- Visual | Election preliminary result
- Merz says he wants to continue strong relationship with the US
- Incoming Chancellor says he wants to build coalition with Scholz' SDP
- Scholz says serving as chancellor a 'great honour'
- Conservatives win German election as far-right party surges to second place
Who are the AfD's allies abroad?
16:28 , Jabed AhmedAfD's rise has coincided with that of far-right parties in many other European countries, including Austria's Freedom Party and the National Rally in France, with which it has plenty of common ground. Orbán this month described Weidel as “the future of Germany.”
However, it isn't part of those parties' Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament after some tensions before last year's EU election. AfD was thrown out of one of the group's predecessors after its leading candidate at the time, Maximilian Krah, said that not all Nazi SS men “were necessarily criminals.”
Musk, a tech billionaire and close ally of US President Donald Trump, has declared that “only the AfD can save Germany.” He held a live chat on X with Weidel and appeared live by video link at an AfD campaign rally.
At that rally, Weidel vowed to “make Germany great again” in an echo of Trump's “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Nine days before the election, Vance met with Weidel after a speech to the Munich Security Conference in which he lectured European leaders about democracy and free speech and declared that “there’s no room for firewalls.” Mainstream German parties' refusal to work with AfD is often referred to as the “firewall.”
Mapped: The German election results after far right AfD sees surge in support in the East
16:26 , Jabed Ahmed
German election results mapped after far right AfD sees surge in support in the East
Watch | Merz says world 'is not waiting' for Germany
15:59 , Jabed Ahmed2021 vs 2025 National Election
15:34 , Jabed AhmedMerz says he will find a way for Netanyahu to visit Germany without being arrested
15:14 , Jabed AhmedGermany's likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz said he had invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit and would find a way for him to do so without being arrested under a warrant by the International Criminal Court.
"I think it is a completely absurd idea that an Israeli Prime Minister cannot visit the Federal Republic of Germany," Merz said at a press conference a day after his conservatives won the largest share of the vote in a national election.
He said he had told Netanyahu by phone "that we would find ways and means for him to visit Germany and leave again without being arrested".
Netanyahu's office said Netanyahu had congratulated Merz,and that Merz had told Netanyahu he would invite him to Germany "in defiance of the scandalous International Criminal Court decision to label the Prime Minister a war criminal".
The Hague-based ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister as well as Hamas officials for alleged war crimes committed in Gaza.
All 27 EU countries including Germany are signatories of the founding treaty of the court, the only permanent international tribunal for war crimes and crimes against humanity, which requires members to arrest its suspects on their territory.
German CDU leader Merz welcomes UK's interest in improving Europe ties
14:51 , Jabed AhmedGermany's conservative CDU leader Friedrich Merz has welcomed the interest shown by prime minister Keir Starmer in improving ties with Europe, adding that the two had spoken several time in the last few weeks.
"I very much welcome the fact that Great Britain is once again seeking proximity to Europe, to the European Union," Merz told reporters after his conservative bloc won most votes in a national election on Sunday.
Friedrich Merz: Who is Germany’s election winner and how will he fare against AfD leader Alice Weidel?
14:31 , Jabed Ahmed
Who is Friedrich Merz? Germany’s election winner who could become Europe’s new leader
Far-right leds in the east and young voters lead a hard-left revival
13:48 , Jabed AhmedThe far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD, emerged as the strongest party across the country's formerly communist and less prosperous east. That cemented its primacy in a region that has long been its stronghold, and where it won its first state election last year.
Other parties were stronger in only a few eastern constituencies outside Berlin. In western Germany, which accounts for most of the country's population, AfD trailed Merz's Union and sometimes other parties too but still polled strongly on its way to 20.8% of the nationwide vote, the highest postwar score for a far-right party.
While AfD made the biggest gains, the Left Party made the most unexpected. The party appeared headed for electoral oblivion at the start of the campaign but pulled off a resounding comeback to take 8.8% of the vote.
The Left Party appealed to young voters with very liberal positions on social and migration issues and a tax-the-rich policy, backed up by a savvy social media campaign.
It benefited from polarization during the campaign after a motion Merz put to parliament calling for many more migrants to be turned back at the border passed. Merz's conservatives have long refused to work with the Left Party, so there was no prospect of it putting him in the chancellery.
Mapped
13:27 , Jabed AhmedMerz will face pressure to solve some of Europe’s biggest problems, analyst says
13:11 , Jabed AhmedWolfgang Merkel, a political analyst from the WBZ Berlin Social Science Center, says there will high pressure on Friedrich Merz as Germany’s next chancellor to help solve some of Europe’s most urgent problems.
Merz will be expected to help find a united European response to issues such as security and defense, especially when it comes to Russia’s aggressive stance.
“Interests are so different within the European Union, including the political majorities, that we shouldn’t expect a resounding common EU policy,” he said, adding that it will likely be “the usual game of muddling through.”
Merz says he wants to continue strong relationship with the US
13:10 , Jabed AhmedMerz says he will do everything he can to continue a good transatlantic relationship with the United States — even if this may be more difficult with the new Trump administration.
He says that even though “all the signals we are getting from the USA indicate that interest in Europe is clearly waning ... I hope that we can convince the Americans that it is in our mutual interest that we continue to have good transatlantic relations.”
He told reporters that “if those who really do not just make America first, but almost America alone their motto, prevail, then it will be difficult. But I remain hopeful that we will succeed in maintaining the transatlantic relationship.”
He warned that if the good relationship “is destroyed, it will not only be to the detriment of Europe, it will also be to the detriment of America.”
Merz thanks 40million people who voted for conservatives
12:46
Incoming Chancellor says he wants to build coalition with Scholz' SDP
12:42 , Jabed AhmedFriedrich Merz has said he wants to build a coalition with the outgoing chancellors’ centre-left party SDP.
Mr Merz, leader of the centre-right conservatives, hopes to start talks “in the coming days”.
In a separate press conference, SDP co-leader Lars Klingbeil, said whether the SDP becomes part of the government coalition is not decided yet.
Scholz: 'Bitter election result'
12:38 , Jabed AhmedOutgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz has said the election result, in which his centre-left SDP party came third, is a “bitter result”.
He added that his party “tried to do a good job in face of one of the greatest challenges facing our country since 1945.”
“Just as I was responsible for the success, I am of course responsible for the current result,” Mr Scholz added.
German foreign minister: Greens party will support debt reform
12:34 , Jabed AhmedGerman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said her Greens party will seek to support any efforts by the country's future government to reform laws that limit public debt even as the party is set to take an opposition role in parliament.
"We see a responsibility that is greater than our party, a responsibility that will be decisive with regard to the question whether Germany will remain in a position to act," Baerbock said in a press conference, citing security needs amid the war in Ukraine.
German leftist BSW party considers challenging national election result
12:19 , Jabed AhmedGermany's political newcomer, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), said on Monday it might legally challenge the results of the national election after narrowly missing the 5% hurdle to enter parliament.
The leftist populist BSW, which was created last year, scored 4.97% in Sunday's election, lacking just 13,400 votes to enter parliament in a country where around 60 million people are eligible to cast a ballot.
Some Germans abroad, including the ambassador to Britain, had complained of not receiving paperwork for their postal votes on time, a situation BSW leaders pointed to in a news conference on Monday.
"This raises the question of the legal validity of the election result," said the BSW's eponymous leader Sahra Wagenknecht.
"We will examine this and, of course, consult with lawyers, which is why this is only mentioned briefly at the end."
Wagenknecht said it was not yet clear how many of the 230,000 Germans registered to vote abroad were unable in the end to cast their ballot.
However, even if none of those had been able to vote, and 5% supported the BSW, that would still only be an extra 11,500 votes.
Chairwoman Amira Mohamed Ali said there were also indications there may have been errors during the vote count but said there were high hurdles to contesting an election in Germany.
"We are checking whether it has a chance of success," she said. "If we see that it does, then we will take the step."
scholz says serving as chancellor a 'great honour'
12:26 , Jabed AhmedChancellor Olaf Scholz says it has been “a great honor” to serve as Germany’s ninth postwar leader and that it’s important to him to bring his job to an orderly end.
Scholz said on Monday that the election result from the vote the day before was bitter for his party and “it hasn’t become better today.”
“I would like to stress that it is a great honor to be the ninth chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, the fourth Social Democrat who can fill this job in the history of the federal republic,” he said, speaking at his party’s headquarters.
“It is very, very important to me to carry out this work in an orderly way until the last day,” he added.
It’s unclear when that will be. Scholz’s outgoing minority government will remain in office while Friedrich Merz, who until now was Germany’s opposition leader, tries to put together a coalition.
Pictured | Outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz gives speech following defeat
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International reaction to German election
11:59 , Jabed AhmedDonald Trump
On Truth Social, president Trump said: "Much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has prevailed for so many years. This is a great day for Germany."
Emmanuel Macron
"I just spoke with Friedrich Merz to congratulate him on his victory in the German elections.
"I also had an exchange with Olaf Scholz to express my friendship on this evening.
"We are more determined than ever to achieve great things together for France and Germany and work towards a strong and sovereign Europe. In this time of uncertainty, we are united to face the major challenges of the world and our continent."
Volodymyr Zelensky
"I congratulate the CDU/CSU and Friedrich Merz on their victory in the Bundestag elections. A clear voice from the voters, and we see how important this is for Europe.
"We look forward to continuing our joint work with Germany to protect lives, bring real peace closer to Ukraine, and strengthen Europe.
"Europe must be able to defend itself, develop its industries, and achieve the necessary results. Europe needs shared successes, and those success will bring even greater unity to Europe."
Benjamin Netanyahu
"Congratulations to Friedrich Merz and CDU/CSU on their clear election victory today. Looking forward to working closely with your upcoming government to further strengthen the partnership between our two countries."
Elon Musk wants the far right AfD to win the German election - here’s how he became their champion
11:46 , Jabed AhmedGermany’s leading political figures say Musk will face consequences for his endorsement of the country’s far-right party, Tom Watling and Alicja Hagopian write
Elon Musk wants far right AfD to win the German election - here’s how he’s doing it
Germany's Habeck to give up leading role in Greens after election result
11:32 , Jabed AhmedGermany's Robert Habeck, who had run in Sunday's election as the chancellor candidate for the environmentalist Greens, said he would no longer take a leading role in his party after what he described as a disappointing result.
"This result does not meet my expectations. It is not a good result," Habeck, also economy minister, told reporters on Monday.
"I will no longer seek any leading role in the personnel setup of the Greens," he said.
The party, which ruled with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats and the Free Democrats until November, when the coalition collapsed, came fourth in the vote with 11.6%. There is almost no prospect of the party having a role in government.
Germany's debt brake reform in current parliament is unrealistic, minister says
11:19 , Jabed AhmedA reform of the German debt brake, which caps public borrowing, seems unrealistic under the current government, Finance Minister Joerg Kukies told Reuters.
"First of all, there's far too little time, and secondly, it would also be a questionable political signal if constitutional amendments were now made with an old majority," Kukies said.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Germany's Left party jointly secured a third of seats in the new parliament enabling them to block changes to the constitution, including a loosening of the country's debt brake.
German stocks and Euro rise following election results
11:06 , Jabed AhmedThe euro and German stocks rallied on Monday as investors welcomed Germany’s election result that put centrist parties on track to form a coalition, although optimism was tempered by potentially tricky negotiations over economic policy.
"Because the German election didn't provide too many surprises, it's not that surprising that euro/dollar is trading back to the levels it was trading in on Friday afternoon," said Jane Foley, head of FX strategy at Rabobank.
Investors are now focused on how quickly Merz's party can form a coalition government and enact reforms to help revive a stagnant economy.
Meanwhile Germany's DAX stock index .GDAXI rose 0.73% in early trading. The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX rose 0.19%, although tech stocks slipped.
Merz will push up debt with help of left, says AfD leader
10:53 , Jabed AhmedThe leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the second largest party in parliament after Sunday's election, said Germany's likely next chancellor would be held hostage by left-wing parties that would seek to loosen tough fiscal rules.
The AfD's Alice Weidel compared the country's finances to those of a company, saying that the likely new government of conservative leader Friedrich Merz would be forced by left-wing parties into borrowing more.
"(He) won't be able to implement anything that he promised," she said of Merz, a fiscal conservative who has however indicated that he is open to easing Germany's debt brake in order to increase defence spending.
"He will compromise with the left to loosen the debt brake, and that's the opposite of what the country needs... The state should function like a company and when a company is over-indebted you know what happens," she added.
The AfD's success means it is time for other parties, in particular Merz's conservatives, to ditch the so-called "fire wall", she said, referring to a consensus among the mainstream parties to exclude the AfD from power.
"This blockade is undemocratic," Weidel said. "You can't simply exclude millions of voters... We have built a strategic basis from which we can overtake the conservatives in coming years, becoming the biggest political force."
Nearly one in four men and almost 20% of women vote for far-right AfD
10:39 , Jabed AhmedMale voters tended more towards the centre-right CDU/CSU and far-right AfD, while female voters showed stronger support for the centre-left SPD and the hard-left Die Linke party.
Charted | How does the 2025 election result compare to the last time voters went to polls
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Kremlin says it hopes to work with new German government on areas of 'mutual interest'
10:19 , Jabed AhmedThe Kremlin has said it hoped Germany's next government would take what it called a more sober approach to reality and issues of mutual interest after Sunday's election victory for Friedrich Merz's conservatives.
Russia's ties with Germany have been strained in recent years over Berlin's military support for Ukraine.
Asked if Merz's arrival would allow Russia and Germany to build a more constructive relationship like the one under former German chancellor Angela Merkel, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said:
"Each time (there's a new government) we want to hope for a more sober approach to reality, for a more sober approach to what could be issues of mutual interest (between Russia and Germany), mutual benefits.
"But let's see how it will be in reality."
Russia supplied about 65 per cent of the gas which powered German homes and industry before the start of Moscow's war in Ukraine three years ago, according to the Brookings Institution, a US think-tank.
Germany has dramatically reduced its dependency on Russian gas since then, and ties between the countries have since been further strained over Berlin's military assistance to Ukraine.
Weidel praises Trump's efforts with DOGE
10:09 , Jabed AhmedAlice Weidel, leader of the far-right AfD has praised US president Donald Trump’s efforts to cut hundreds of thousands of federal workers' jobs.
The cost-cutting crusade is led by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk.
Ms Weidel said that “Americans are going in exactly the right direction” and that her party would do the same in Germany if they were in power.
“What we have here is a political apparatus of civil servants that is highly inefficient and that actually manages itself at the taxpayer’s expense,” she said.
Weidel says people should stop associating the party with facism
09:59 , Jabed AhmedAlice Weidel, the co-leader of the far-right AfD, has said the media should stop “pulling us through the cocoa”, in reference to associations with fascism.
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Ms Weidal said she received a personal congratulations message from billionaire Elon Musk this morning.
“We’re the power in Germany that is internationally recognised,” she added.“We’re in contact with all sides and that includes the Trump administration.”
Hungary's far-right Viktor Orban hails the AfD result
09:50 , Jabed AhmedHungary’s far-right prime minister Viktor Orban has congratulated the AfD on their election result.
Writing on X, previously Twitter, Mr Orban said: “The people of Germany voted for change in immense numbers. I want to congratulate Alice Weidel on doubling AfD’s share of the votes. Good luck and God bless Germany!”
The people of Germany voted for change in immense numbers. I want to congratulate @Alice_Weidel on doubling @AfD’s share of the votes. Good luck and God bless Germany!
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) February 24, 2025
Parties refuse to work with far-right AfD in next governing coalition
09:41 , Jabed AhmedAlternative for Germany has achieved the strongest showing by a far-right party since World World II, becoming the second strongest force in the national parliament and the most popular party in eastern Germany.
Yet the country’s mainstream parties still refuse to work with it. The principle is known as a “firewall” against extreme right forces after the trauma of the Nazi era.
Mr Merz has ruled out a coalition with the AfD and Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democrats party might be necessary as a junior party in the next government, said on Sunday that he hopes all political parties continue their traditional refusal to work with the far right.
“No cooperation with the extreme right,” Mr Scholz said.
Still, a growing number of Germans feel the other parties have failed to manage the large-scale immigration to Germany of the past decade.
AfD deputy leader says Germany's future is 'bright'
09:31 , Jabed AhmedBeatrix von Storch, deputy leader of the far-right AfD, has said the election results show “people want to close our borders”.
Speaking to the BBC, Ms Von Storch said. “The future is bright - it's about migration.”
“People want to close our borders, to not let any illegal migrant into our country, to send back all the hundreds of thousands who came from Syria and celebrated the fall of Assad in our streets, and those from Afghanistan and when peace is in Ukraine, also those from Ukraine,” she added.
Von Storch said people should go back to those countries voluntarily, as there are no longer wars to justify their asylum.
Merz will invite Israel’s prime minister to Germany despite an arrest warrant, Netanyahu’s office says
09:19 , Jabed AhmedThe office of Israel’s prime minister has said Friedrich Merz will invite Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Germany despite an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader from the UN’s top war-crimes court.
The two spoke by phone on Sunday night as Netanyahu congratulated Merz on his victory, the prime minister’s office said.
Merz’s party confirmed the phone call with Netanyahu but said it doesn’t comment on the contents of such conversations.
The ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu, his former defence minister and Hamas’ military chief, who was later confirmed killed in Gaza, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza.
The warrant puts Netanyahu at risk of arrest whenever he travels to a country that is a member of the court. Neither Israel nor its top ally, the United States, are members of the court.
Merz questions Nato's future in 'current form'
08:59 , Jabed AhmedGermany's likely next Chancellor Friedrich Merz has questioned whether Nato would remain in its "current form" by June in light of comments by US President Donald Trump's administration.
"I would never have thought that I would have to say something like this in a TV show but, after Donald Trump's remarks last week...it is clear that this government does not care much about the fate of Europe," Merz told German public broadcaster ARD after his conservatives won a national election.
Referring to a NATO summit scheduled for June, Merz said he was curious to see "whether we will still be talking about NATO in its current form then or whether we will have to establish an independent European defence capability much more quickly".
Asked about Merz's remarks, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said: "It signals we are at the start of a new era."
"The era that started at the fall of the Berlin Wall is now over," Veldkamp said, speaking ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, adding that Europeans had to have "realistic expectations" about their relations with the United States.
Germany's AfD and Left win enough seats to veto constitutional changes
08:46 , Jabed AhmedThe far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Germany's Left party jointly secured one third of seats in the new parliament that is required to block changes to the constitution, including a loosening of the country's debt brake.
The debt brake restricts budget deficits to 0.35% of gross domestic product, though that excludes top-ups of the special fund for defence or the creation of a new special fund.
However, both the AfD and the Left oppose military aid to Ukraine and with their new-found strength in the Bundestag lower house they could veto increased contributions to the defence fund, creating tensions with Germany's NATO allies, including the Trump administration which wants Europe to spend much more.
Merz promises to unify Europe despite challenges from the US and Russia
08:39 , Jabed AhmedFriedrich Merz has said his top priority is to unify Europe in the face of challenges coming from the United States and Russia.
Both Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump's ally Elon Musk have openly supported the far-right AfD, which surged to second place in Sunday's election.
“I have no illusions at all about what is happening from America,” Merz told supporters.
“We are under such massive pressure,” he added. "My absolute priority now is really to create unity in Europe.”
Turkish immigrant group in Germany criticises far-right AfD’s election gains
08:28 , Jabed AhmedThe leader of one of Germany’s biggest immigrant groups has criticised AfD’s second-place finish in Germany's election on Sunday.
Aslıhan Yeşilkaya-Yurtbay of the Turkish Community in Germany group said though the AfD won't be part of the next government, it will still have the power to "determine the discourse and drive this country against the wall.”
About 25 per cent of Germans have immigrant roots and people of Turkish descent are the biggest group.
Yeşilkaya-Yurtbay added: “many parties have followed the AfD’s narrative to varying degrees and have promised to solve the ‘migration problem’ — with the aim of pushing the AfD back. This has been a resounding failure.”
“People with a migrant roots are frightened and are thinking about leaving Germany," Yeşilkaya-Yurtbay said. "Without migration our country has no future.”
How did voter age affect vote?
08:07 , Alex CroftAge was one of the vital factors defining how German’s voted in yesterday’s election.
The Left party won among voters in the 18-24 range with 25 per cent of the vote. The AfD came second in that category with 21 per cent - just higher than their national vote share.
Over 70s were the least likely to vote for the far right AfD, while 35-44 year olds were the most likely, at 26 per cent.
Only 13 per cent of 18-24 year olds voted for the CDU/CSU - the largest party in the Bundestag - rising steadily throughout the age groups to 42 per cent among over 70s.
Germany’s Friedrich Merz takes swipe at Trump and calls for ‘independence from the USA’
07:55 , Alex CroftGermany's likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for ‘independence from the USA’ in his first speech after winning the German elections.
In an early indication of his policy intentions, he took aim at the U.S. after his win, criticising the "ultimately outrageous" comments flowing from Washington during the campaign, comparing them to hostile interventions from Russia.
"For me, the absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve real independence from the USA step by step," Mr Merz said on Sunday.
“I never thought I would have to say something like this on a television program. But after Donald Trump's statements last week at the latest, it is clear that the Americans, at least this part of the Americans, this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”
Sam Rkaina reports:
Germany’s Merz takes swipe at Trump and calls for ‘independence from the USA’
Starmer congratulates incoming chancellor Merz
07:47British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has congratulated leader of the CDU/CSU coalition, Freidrich Merz, for a successful election night.
Sir Keir wrote on X: “Congratulations to @_FriedrichMerz and @CDU/@CSU for the results in Germany’s election.
“I look forward to working with the new government to deepen our already strong relationship, enhance our joint security and deliver growth for both our countries.”
Congratulations to @_FriedrichMerz and @CDU/@CSU for the results in Germany’s election.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 23, 2025
I look forward to working with the new government to deepen our already strong relationship, enhance our joint security and deliver growth for both our countries.
Merz: Now more than ever, we must support Ukraine
07:38 , Alex CroftThe man highly likely to become Germany’s next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has spoken out on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Three years of Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Three years of war in Europe,” he wrote on X on Monday morning.
“For three years, we have been accompanied by the terrible images of destruction and war crimes. Europe remains firmly on the side of Ukraine.
“Now more than ever, we must put Ukraine in a position of strength. For a just peace, the attacked country must be part of peace negotiations.”
Approach to the Russia-Ukraine war is one of the crucial points of contention between the centre-right CDU/CSU and far-right AfD, with the former ruling out a coalition.
CDU leader Mr Merz has previously criticised the party for having “not a single critical word to say about Russia”, while CSU leader Markus Soder said a coalition with the AfD would “turn our country into a vassal state of Moscow”.
Drei Jahre russischer Angriffskrieg gegen die #Ukraine. Drei Jahre Krieg in Europa. Seit drei Jahren begleiten uns die schrecklichen Bilder von Zerstörung und Kriegsverbrechen. Europa steht unverändert fest an der Seite der Ukraine. Es gilt mehr denn je: Wir müssen die Ukraine in…
— Friedrich Merz (@_FriedrichMerz) February 24, 2025
Germany's election night in pictures
07:30 , Alex Croft
Full report: Conservatives win German election as far-right party surges to second place
07:14 , Alex CroftGermany’s conservative opposition won the most votes in the snap national election as mainstream parties vowed to fight a surge in far-right support off the back of a spate of terror attacks and economic turmoil.
Provisional results released on Monday confirmed that Friedrich Merz, leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union, was likely to be the next chancellor. They also showed that the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, had surged to become the nation’s second-largest party.
The election campaign was dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe's biggest economy and pressure to curb migration, something that caused friction after Mr Merz pushed hard in recent weeks for a tougher approach.
It took place against a background of growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe's alliance with the US.
Tom Watling and Namita Singh report:
Conservatives win German election as far-right party surges to second place
Who is Friedrich Merz? Conservative leader set to become next German chancellor
07:09 , Namita SinghFriedrich Merz is on course to become the post-World War II Germany's 10th chancellor, the culmination of a yearslong political career that was once sidelined by his party's iconic leader.
The 69-year-old head of the center-right Union bloc, which won the country's national election with 28.6 per cent of the votes, has by far the best chance of forming a new government.
The most likely outcome appeared to be a coalition with the Social Democrats, which have led an unpopular coalition since 2021 with two other parties.
The top job has been late in coming for Mr Merz, a lawyer by profession, who saw his ascent derailed by former Chancellor Angela Merkel in the early 2000s and even turned his back on active politics for several years. Despite his political experience, he is heading to the chancellery without previously having served in government.
Mr Merz turned his back on active politics for several years after leaving the parliament in 2009.
He practiced law and headed the supervisory board of investment manager BlackRock's German branch. During that break, he often travelled for business to the United States and China, though he never lived outside Germany.
Mr Merz launched his political comeback after Merkel stepped down as CDU leader in 2018 and announced that she wouldn't seek a fifth term as chancellor. However, he was narrowly defeated by centrist candidates more in Merkel's mold in party leadership votes in 2018 and early 2021.
Mr Merz persisted and was elected party leader in the third attempt, after the center-right's defeat by current chancellor Olaf Scholz in Germany's 2021 election. Mr Merz cemented his power by also becoming the leader of the Union's parliamentary group.
Why have most parties refused coalition with far-right AfD
06:55The anti-immigrant far-right party Alternative for Germany, or AfD, has established itself as a significant political force in the 12 years since it was founded, but it has not yet been part of any state or national government.
That is the result of what is often called a "firewall" against AfD.
Mainstream parties in the country say they will not work with the AfD, despite the party emerging as the second largest in this election. The party is under observation by the domestic intelligence agency for suspected right-wing extremism, something that AfD objects to strongly.
Its branches in three eastern states are designated "proven right-wing extremist" groups, which is particularly sensitive in view of Germany's Nazi past.
Germany’s far-right AfD sees a surge
06:36 , Namita SinghA far-right party has surged to become Germany’s second-largest party in the national election, confirmed provisional results. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, won 152 seats in 630-seat Budestag, in its best showing ever.
The AfD was jubilant on Sunday night, with leaders vowing to become the country's main party in the next election as its appeal expands.
The anti-immigrant, far-right party has established itself as a significant political force in the 12 years since it was founded, but it has not yet been part of any state or national government.
Germany’s Merz faces tricky talks with potential coalition ally
06:34 , Namita SinghGermany's likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz will start trying to form a coalition government this morning after his conservative bloc won a national election that saw far-right and far-left parties hoover up support from disaffected voters.
Mr Merz, who has no previous experience in office, is set to take charge with Europe's largest economy ailing, its society split over migration and its security caught between a confrontational US and an assertive Russia and China.
The 69-year-old faces lengthy coalition negotiations after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to a historic second place in a fractured vote following the collapse of chancellor Olaf Scholz's unloved three-way alliance.
His conservative CDU/CSU bloc came in first place on 28.6 per cent, ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany on 20.8 per cent, its best ever result, according to provisional results.
Mainstream parties, however, rule out working with the AfD, a party which is monitored by German security services on suspicion of extremism but has been endorsed by US figures including billionaire Elon Musk.
That means Mr Merz will have to negotiate with Mr Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) to form a coalition in talks that are likely to take months following a bruising campaign that highlighted policy differences.
Merz’ CDU wins 208 seats
06:21 , Namita SinghFriedrich Merz's conservatives won 208 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag, while the AfD won 152. The incumbent Social Democrats won 120 seats and the Left party got 64.
The left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance came in just barely under the five per cent hurdle needed to get seats in parliament, while the pro-business Free Democrats also failed to reach five per cent.
Conservatives win German election as far-right party surges to second place
05:34 , Namita SinghProvisional results confirmed that mainstream conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won Germany's national election, while a far-right party surged to become the nation's second-largest.
The campaign was dominated by worries about the yearslong stagnation of Europe's biggest economy and pressure to curb migration, something that caused friction after Mr Merz pushed hard in recent weeks for a tougher approach. It took place against a background of growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe's alliance with the United States.
The results released by the electoral authority showed Mr Merz's Christian Democrats and the center-left Social Democrats winning a combined majority of seats in the national legislature after small parties failed to make the electoral threshold.
That gives Mr Merz the best chance of becoming the country's next chancellor. He said on election night that he hopes to form a government by Easter at the latest.
He has ruled out a coalition with the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, which is now the country's second-largest party after its best showing ever.
Merz questions longevity of Nato’s ‘current form’
05:32 , Namita SinghGermany's likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned whether Nato would remain in its "current form" by June in light of the comments by US president Donald Trump's administration, and that Europe must quickly establish an independent defence capability.
"I would never have thought that I would have to say something like this in a TV show but, after Donald Trump's remarks last week...it is clear that this government does not care much about the fate of Europe," Mr Merz told German public broadcaster ARD after his conservatives won a national election.
Last week, the Trump administration shocked European allies by telling them they must take care of their own security and rely less on the United States, while announcing talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine without involving Europe.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth warned Europeans "stark strategic realities" would prevent the US from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.
Referring to a Nato summit scheduled for June, Mr Merz said he was curious to see "whether we will still be talking about Nato in its current form then or whether we will have to establish an independent European defence capability much more quickly".
On Friday, Mr Merz told public broadcaster ZDF that Germany would need to come to terms with the possibility that Mr Trump might not stick with Nato's mutual-defence pledge unrestrictedly.
He said this meant that Berlin might need to become less reliant on the US with regard to their nuclear umbrella, too, and advocated talks with Europe's nuclear powers France and Britain about an expansion of their nuclear protection.
A delighted far-right party expresses desire to support Merz
04:12 , Namita SinghThe co-leader of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD, projected to win about 20.5 per cent votes, told cheering supporters that "we have achieved something historic today”.
"We are now the political center and we have left the fringes behind us," said Tino Chrupalla. The party's strongest previous showing was 12.6 per cent in 2017, when it first entered the national parliament.
The party's candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, said it is "open for coalition negotiations" with Friedrich Merz's party, and that "otherwise, no change of policy is possible in Germany".
Mr Merz has repeatedly ruled out working with AfD, as have other mainstream parties — and did so again in a televised post-election exchange with Ms Weidel and other leaders.
Ms Weidel suggested AfD wouldn't have to make many concessions to secure a theoretical coalition, arguing that the Union largely copied its programme and deriding its "Pyrrhic victory".
"It won't be able to implement it with left-wing parties," she said. If Mr Merz ends up forming an alliance with the Social Democrats and Greens, "it will be an unstable government that doesn't last four years, there will be an interim Chancellor Friedrich Merz and in the coming years we will overtake the Union”.
Mr Merz dismissed the idea that voters wanted a coalition with AfD. "We have fundamentally different views, for example on foreign policy, on security policy, in many other areas, regarding Europe, the euro, Nato," he said.
"You want the opposite of what we want, so there will be no cooperation," Mr Merz added.
Olaf Scholz decried AfD's success. He said that "that must never be something that we will accept. I will not accept it and never will”.
Greens advise Merz to moderate his tone
03:58 , Namita SinghThe Greens' candidate for chancellor, vice chancellor Robert Habeck, said that Friedrich Merz would do well to moderate his tone after a hard-fought campaign.
"We have seen the center is weakened overall, and everyone should look at themselves and ask whether they didn't contribute to that," said Mr Habeck.
"Now he must see that he acts like a chancellor."
The Greens were the party that suffered least from participating in Mr Scholz's unpopular government. The Social Democrats' general secretary, Matthias Miersch, suggested that their defeat was no surprise — "this election wasn't lost in the last eight weeks."
Merz struggle to establish viable government
03:38 , Namita SinghWhether Friedrich Merz will have a majority to form a coalition with Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats or need a second partner too, which would realistically have to be the Greens, will depend on whether the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance or BSW gets into parliament.
While Mr Merz’ party is projected to receive 28.5 per cent votes, the exit polls put Mr Scholz's Social Democrats at just over 16 per cent and Greens at about 12 per cent.
The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance , or the BSW is around five per cent.
The conservative leader said that "the most important thing is to re-establish a viable government in Germany as quickly as possible".
"I am aware of the responsibility," Mr Merz said. "I am also aware of the scale of the task that now lies ahead of us. I approach it with the utmost respect, and I know that it will not be easy."
"The world out there isn't waiting for us, and it isn't waiting for long-drawn-out coalition talks and negotiations," he told cheering supporters.
What led to Scholz’ fall
03:23 , Namita SinghThe election took place seven months earlier than originally planned after Olaf Scholz's unpopular coalition collapsed in November, three years into a term that was increasingly marred by infighting. There was widespread discontent and not much enthusiasm for any of the candidates.
The campaign was dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe's biggest economy and pressure to curb migration — something that caused friction after Friedrich Merz pushed hard in recent weeks for a tougher approach. It took place against a background of growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe's alliance with the United States.
Germany is the most populous country in the 27-nation European Union and a leading member of Nato. It has been Ukraine's second-biggest weapons supplier, after the US. It will be central to shaping the continent's response to the challenges of the coming years, including the Trump administration's confrontational foreign and trade policy.
The projections, based on exit polls and partial counting, put support for Mr Merz's Union bloc around 28.5 per cent and the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, or AfD, about 20.5 per cent — roughly double its result from 2021.
They put support for Mr Scholz's Social Democrats at just over 16 per cent, far lower than in the last election and below their previous post-war low of 20.5 per cent from 2017. The environmentalist Greens, their remaining partners in the outgoing government, were on about 12 per cent.
Out of three smaller parties, one — the hard-left Left Party — strengthened its position, winning up to nine per cent of the vote after a remarkable comeback. The pro-business Free Democrats, who were the third party in the collapsed government, looked likely to lose their seats in parliament with about 4.5 per cent. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, or BSW, was hovering around the five per cent threshold needed to win seats.
Olaf Scholz concedes defeat
03:04 , Namita SinghGermany's conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz won a lackluster victory in a national election while Alternative for Germany doubled its support in the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II, projections showed.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat for his center-left Social Democrats after what he called "a bitter election result”.
Projections for ARD and ZDF public television showed his party finishing in third place with its worst postwar result in a national parliamentary election.
Mr Merz said he hopes to put a coalition government together by Easter.
Watch: Far-right AfD supporters in Germany cite rising crime and social changes as reasons for support
03:00 , Tara Cobham'I am aware of responsibility and scale of task ahead,' says Merz
02:30 , Tara Cobham"I am aware of the responsibility," Friedrich Merz has said as he claimed victory in Germany’s election.
"I am also aware of the scale of the task that now lies ahead of us. I approach it with the utmost respect, and I know that it will not be easy."
"The world out there isn't waiting for us, and it isn't waiting for long-drawn-out coalition talks and negotiations," he told cheering supporters. "We must now become capable of acting quickly again."
AfD both drove and harnessed hardening attitudes towards migration in Germany
02:00 , Tara CobhamAttitudes towards migration in Germany have hardened, a profound shift in German public sentiment since its "Refugees Welcome" culture during Europe's migrant crisis in 2015, that the AfD has both driven and harnessed.
Germans are also more pessimistic about their living standards now than at any time since the financial crisis in 2008.
Lengthy coalition talks could leave Scholz in caretaker role for months
01:30 , Tara CobhamLengthy coalition talks could leave Olaf Scholz in a caretaker role for months, delaying urgently needed policies to revive the German economy after two consecutive years of contraction and as companies struggle against global rivals.
A delay would also create a leadership vacuum in the heart of Europe even as it deals with a host of challenges such as Donald Trump threatening a trade war and attempting to fast-track a ceasefire deal for Ukraine without European involvement.
A brash economic liberal who has shifted the conservatives to the right, Friedrich Merz is considered the antithesis of former conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years.
Merz conditionally supports equipping Ukraine with longer-range Taurus missiles, a step Scholz's government shied away from, and sees Europe as firmly anchored in NATO.
Unclear whether Merz will need one or two partners to form majority
00:30 , Tara CobhamMerz is heading into coalition talks without a strong negotiating hand. But while his CDU/CSU emerged as the largest bloc, it scored its second worst post-war result.
It remains unclear whether Merz will need one or two partners to form a majority, with the fate of smaller parties unclear in a way that could jumble parliamentary arithmetic.
A three-way coalition would likely be much more unwieldy, hampering Germany's ability to show clear leadership.
"A three-party coalition runs the risk of more muddling through and more stagnation unless all parties involved realise that this is the last chance to bring change and to prevent the AfD from getting stronger," said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING.
"As long as the new government does not bring significant change, foreign investments will also be held back, weakening Germany's economic outlook."
Voter turnout at 83% highest since before reunification in 1990, according to exit polls
00:00 , Tara CobhamVoter turnout at 83 per cent was the highest since before reunification in 1990, according to exit polls.
Male voters tended more towards the right, while female voters showed stronger support for leftist parties.
Germany's Merz questions the longevity of NATO's 'current form'
Sunday 23 February 2025 23:43Germany's likely next Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned on Sunday whether NATO would remain in its "current form" by June in light of the comments by US President Donald Trump's administration, and that Europe must quickly establish an independent defence capability.
"I would never have thought that I would have to say something like this in a TV show but, after Donald Trump's remarks last week...it is clear that this government does not care much about the fate of Europe," Merz told German public broadcaster ARD after his conservatives won a national election.
Last week, the Trump administration shocked European allies by telling them they must take care of their own security and rely less on the United States, while announcing talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine without involving Europe.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned Europeans "stark strategic realities" would prevent the U.S. from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.
Referring to a NATO summit scheduled for June, Merz said he was curious to see "whether we will still be talking about NATO in its current form then or whether we will have to establish an independent European defence capability much more quickly".
On Friday, Merz told public broadcaster ZDF that Germany would need to come to terms with the possibility that Trump might not stick with NATO's mutual-defence pledge unrestrictedly.
He said this meant that Berlin might need to become less reliant on the U.S. with regard to their nuclear umbrella, too, and advocated talks with Europe's nuclear powers France and Britain about an expansion of their nuclear protection.
Merz, a transatlanticist, has been more hawkish against Russia than the acting Chancellor Olaf Scholz, suggesting medium-range Taurus missiles might be sent to Kyiv under his reign, something Scholz has strictly rejected.
Germany's election dominated by years-long economic stagnation and migration pressures
Sunday 23 February 2025 23:30 , Tara CobhamGermany’s election was dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe's biggest economy and with pressure to curb migration.
It took place against a background of growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe's alliance with the US.
Social Democrats suggest defeat was no surprise
Sunday 23 February 2025 23:01 , Tara CobhamThe Social Democrats' general secretary, Matthias Miersch, suggested that the defeat was no surprise after three years of the unpopular government.
"This election wasn't lost in the last eight weeks," he said.
The projections, based on exit polls and partial counting, put support for Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats at just over 16 per cent, far lower than in the last election.
Germany's conservatives win election but hard coalition talks loom
Sunday 23 February 2025 22:30 , Tara CobhamGermany's conservatives won the national election on Sunday but a fractured vote handed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) its best ever result in second place and left conservative leader Friedrich Merz facing messy coalition talks.
Merz, who has no previous experience in office, is set to become chancellor with Europe's largest economy ailing, its society split over migration and its security caught between a confrontational US and an assertive Russia and China.
After the collapse of incumbent Olaf Scholz's unloved coalition, Merz, 69, must forge a coalition from a fragmented parliament in a process that could take months.
His conservative bloc and other mainstream parties rule out working with the AfD, a party which has been endorsed by US figures including billionaire Elon Musk.
Merz takes aim at Trump and calls for a Europe indepedent from US
Sunday 23 February 2025 21:57 , Tara CobhamFriedrich Merz took aim at the US in blunt remarks after his expected victory, criticising the "ultimately outrageous" comments flowing from Washington during the election campaign, comparing them to hostile interventions from Russia.
"So we are under such massive pressure from two sides that my absolute priority now is to achieve unity in Europe. It is possible to create unity in Europe," he told a roundtable with other leaders.
Merz's broadside against the US came despite President Donald Trump welcoming the conservative victory.
Hitherto seen as an atlanticist, Merz said Trump had shown his administration to be "largely indifferent to the fate of Europe".
Merz's "absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can achieve real independence from the USA step by step", he added.
Zelensky tells Merz he looks forward to working together to bring peace to Ukraine
Sunday 23 February 2025 21:44 , Tara CobhamUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated conservative leader Friedrich Merz on his party's win in Germany's parliamentary elections and said he was looking forward to working together to bring "real" peace to Ukraine.
"I congratulate the CDU/CSU and Friedrich Merz on their victory in the Bundestag elections," Zelensky said in a post on X.
"We look forward to continuing our joint work with Germany to protect lives, bring real peace closer to Ukraine, and strengthen Europe."
I congratulate the CDU/CSU and @_FriedrichMerz on their victory in the Bundestag elections. A clear voice from the voters, and we see how important this is for Europe.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 23, 2025
We look forward to continuing our joint work with Germany to protect lives, bring real peace closer to Ukraine,…
European unity needed to counter US or Russian interference, says Merz
Sunday 23 February 2025 21:33 , Tara CobhamGermany's conservative election winner Friedrich Merz said his top priority was to work towards unity in Europe in order to counter interference from the United States or Russia.
He had no illusions about challenges in the relationship with the US, Merz said in a panel at broadcasters ARD and ZDF.
"The interventions from Washington were no less dramatic and drastic and ultimately outrageous than the interventions we have seen from Moscow," he said, in reference to support offered by US billionaire Elon Musk to Germany's far right during the election.
Reaction to Germany's election from politicians around the world
Sunday 23 February 2025 21:00 , Tara CobhamGermany's opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday, putting leader Friedrich Merz on track to be the next chancellor while the far-right Alternative for Germany came in second on its best ever result, projected results showed.
Here is some international reaction to the results.
US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ON TRUTH SOCIAL
"Much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has prevailed for so many years. This is a great day for Germany."
GREECE PRIME MINISTER KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS ON X
"A decisive victory for our political family, for Germany, and for Europe. Congratulations Friedrich Merz! One thing is clear: you will be Germany's next chancellor".
CZECH PRIME MINISTER PETR FIALA ON X
"Congratulations to Friedrich Merz and the CDU/CSU on winning the German elections. I wish you a lot of strength and success in forming the federal government. I look forward to the further deepening of Czech-German cooperation and joint work on a stronger Europe."
HERBERT KICKL, LEADER OF AUSTRIAN FAR-RIGHT FREEDOM PARTY
"As of today, there is a gaping hole in the firewall of he parties of the system, which is really a wall of fear against the will of the people and of democratic change - caused by the hopes of people fed up with being patronised, with illegal mass immigration, and the Islamist terror and security chaos resulting from it, climate communism and the destruction of prosperity.
"Today, a gentle, soothing wind of the freedom of 1989 is blowing through Berlin and the entire Federal Republic."
MATTEO SALVINI, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY
"Change is winning in Germany too! AfD doubles its votes, despite attacks and lies from the left: stop illegal immigration and Islamic fanaticism, enough with the eco-madness, prioritize peace and jobs, Europe must be radically changed.
"Well done (AfD co-leader) Alice Weidel, keep it up!"
FDP chief Lindner to leave politics if his party drops out of parliament
Sunday 23 February 2025 20:40 , Tara CobhamThe leader of Germany's Free Democrats (FDP), Christian Lindner, will leave politics if his party does not make it into the new parliament, he said in a post-election panel discussion aired by public broadcasters on Sunday.
"If the FDP leaves the Bundestag, it is quite clear that I will also leave politics," said Lindner, who served as finance minister until the collapse of the coalition government. "If my political career ends tomorrow, I will leave with only one feeling: gratitude."
More than two hours after polling stations closed, it remained unclear whether the FDP would get over the 5 per cent threshold needed to enter parliament.
Germany's Scholz: will not negotiate new government with Merz
Sunday 23 February 2025 20:20 , Tara CobhamChancellor Olaf Scholz will not take part in coalition negotiations with the conservative bloc if Friedrich Merz invites the Social Democrats, Scholz said on Sunday.
"I will not be a SPD representative in a federal government led by the CDU, nor will I negotiate it," said Scholz in a post-election panel discussion aired by public broadcasters.
'Next time we'll come first': German far-right celebrates breakthrough
Sunday 23 February 2025 19:59 , Tara CobhamFor the first time since the Second World War, a far-right party has come second in a German national election, a result that will keep it outside government but make it a fearsome opponent of the ruling parties.
The Alternative for Germany, which has morphed since it was founded in 2013 from a party of libertarian economists to an anti-immigration, pro-Russia group, is forecast to have won the backing of one-in-five Germans.
The AfD has little chance of joining the government as the other parties maintain a "fire wall" to keep it out of office, but leader Alice Weidel implied in her victory speech that it was only a matter of time before that changed.
"Our hand remains outstretched to form a government," she told supporters, adding that it would be tantamount to "electoral fraud" if the first-placed conservatives chose to govern with left-wing parties rather than them.
If that happened, she said, "next time we'll come first."
Weidel, the leader of a nativist party that preaches traditional family values while raising her children with a Swiss-based woman of Sri Lankan background, said the AfD was now "a mainstream party".
Once internationally isolated, it now has an ally in the White House, where Donald Trump's adviser Elon Musk, the world's richest person, regularly posts his support.
"It's the most amazing feeling. I've been here since its founding and to see it on 20 per cent is amazing. We'll be kept out of coalition, but as you can see, the conservatives are taking all of our positions," said Gilbert Kalb, an AfD member celebrating at the party's headquarters.
Trump hails 'great day for Germany' after conservatives win election
Sunday 23 February 2025 19:34 , Tara CobhamUS president Donald Trump hailed Sunday as a "great day for Germany" after an election in which the centre-right opposition won first place followed by the far-right AfD with its strongest result ever.
"Much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "This is a great day for Germany."
Germany's Merz: We want to form a government representing the whole country
Sunday 23 February 2025 19:32Germany's conservative leader Friedrich Merz, poised to become the new chancellor after his conservative bloc won most votes in the parliamentary election, said he would try to form a government that represents the whole country.
Merz repeated that there would not be a coalition with the far-right AfD party.
Leading German conservative does not see coalition with Greens
Sunday 23 February 2025 19:05 , Tara CobhamMarkus Soeder, premier of Germany's Bavaria state and leader of the CSU party, said he had no hope a government could work with the Greens as projections see his conservative coalition with the CDU as the winner of the general election on Sunday.
Soeder, who already had ruled out a coalition with the Greens before the snap election, pointed to the party's immigration policies, which are at odds with the conservatives' demands for a tougher line.
German foreign minister says country needs strong government
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:57 , Tara CobhamGerman foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said a strong Europe and a strong government were needed after the far-right AfD doubled its share of votes in Germany's snap election on Sunday, according to projections by major broadcasters.
Baerbock, a prominent member of the Greens, added that democratic parties must now act in unison.
AfD 'open' to coalition negotiations with CDU, says Weidel
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:40 , Tara CobhamThe AfD is “open” to coalition negotiations with the CDU, the far-right party’s leader Alice Weidel has said.
In her first comments since exit polls showed a huge surge in support for the AfD, she said: "We are open to coalition negotiations with the CDU."
Merz calls CDU's predicted win shows Germany is 'present in Europe again'
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:38 , Tara CobhamGerman center-right leader of the CDU Friedrich Merz has said his party’s predicted election win shows Germany is “present in Europe again” and will be reliably governed.
German conservative chancellor candidate Merz: We will work to form government quickly
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:35 , Tara CobhamGermany's conservatives will do everything they can to form a government capable of taking action as quickly as possible, chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz said on Sunday.
"Tonight we will celebrate and from tomorrow we start working," Merz said in a first reaction in Berlin, surrounded by supporters. "The world out there is not waiting for us.
Germany's Scholz acknowledges defeat and congratulates challenger Merz
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:32 , Tara CobhamGerman chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged defeat on Sunday and congratulated his conservative challenger Friedrich Merz.
"This is a bitter election result for the Social Democratic Party, it is also an electoral defeat," Scholz said in a first reaction.
"Congratulations on the election result," he said in remarks directed towards Merz.
German politicians' first reactions to exit polls
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:30 , Tara CobhamGermany's opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday, putting leader Friedrich Merz on track to be the next chancellor while the far-right Alternative for Germany came in second, its best ever result, projections showed.
Here are first reactions:
FRIEDRICH MERZ, CDU LEADER AND CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE
"Tonight we will celebrate, and from tomorrow we start working. ... The world out there is not waiting for us."
ALICE WEIDEL, AfD PARTY LEADER
"We are open to coalition negotiations with the CDU."
OLAF SCHOLZ, SPD CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE
"This is a bitter election result for the Social Democratic Party. It is also an election defeat, and I think that needs to be made clear at the outset."
BORIS PISTORIUS, SPD MEMBER AND DEFENCE MINISTER
"The decisive factor is that we have to soberly state that this is a devastating, catastrophic result."
ROBERT HABECK, GREENS CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE
"Germany is now facing a difficult task of forming a government. This must now be completed quickly and successfully."
CARSTEN LINNEMANN, CDU GENERAL SECRETARY
"The traffic light coalition has finally been voted out... The new chancellor will be Friedrich Merz."
ALEXANDER DOBRINDT, CSU CHAIRMAN
"I am still convinced that there is no change of policy among the Greens and therefore I cannot imagine that a coalition (with the Greens) will be formed."
MATTHIAS MIERSCH, SPD GENERAL SECRETARY
"This is a historic defeat for the SPD. ... This is a very bitter evening."
'Catastrophic election result', says German defence minister Pistorius
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:27 , Tara CobhamGerman defence minister Boris Pistorius called the election result catastrophic for his Social Democrats and said that it was now about democrats sticking together.
"This is a devastating, catastrophic result," he said in an interview with broadcaster ARD. Asked about his own future, he said it was on the party to decide what's next.
Austrian conservative leader congratulates Germany's Merz on election win
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:21 , Tara CobhamChristian Stocker, the leader of Austria's conservative People's Party, who looks poised to become the country's next chancellor, congratulated German conservative leader Friedrich Merz for his expected victory in Sunday's parliamentary election in Germany.
"Like Austria, Germany is facing many challenges, and at a time like this, decisive action and strengthening the business location is the order of the day," Stocker said in a statement.
As count continues, what do current vote projections show?
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:20 , Andy GregoryThe latest projection from broadcaster ARD – which is based on ongoing vote counts – has given a similar set of results to those in exit polls.
Its early projection suggests Friedrich Merz’s CDU has won 28.9 per cent of the vote, while AfD have secured 19.9 and, crucially, the two smaller parties – the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and populist, pro-Russian Reason and Justice party (BSW) – have fallen just shy of the 5 per cent threshold.
However, a projection by the research group Wahlen puts both of the smaller parties on 5.0 per cent.
It could make it more difficult for Mr Merz to form a coalition if both smaller parties succeed in entering parliament.
Analysis: Merz set to now consider coalition options
Sunday 23 February 2025 18:18 , Tom Watling, in BerlinHere in the cold of Berlin, the expected next chancellor of Freidrich Merz has hailed a "terrific election campaign" that his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) should win, exit polls and early projections suggest.
He will now look to see how he can form a coalition. The likely aim will be a two-party government with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). The early projections have them at 16 per cent.
A three-party coalition may also be on the cards, most likely with the economically liberal FDP, though projections have them just 0.1 per cent under the five per cent threshold to qualify for office.
But behind the victorious CDU lays the far-right Alternative for Germany. They have more than doubled their share of the vote, according to the projection, to come second, profiting off years of economic difficulty in Germany and backlash to a spate of terror attacks.
It is the largest political victory for the far right in Germany since World War II. In their speech in the German capital, AfD co-chairman Tino Chrupalla described the result as one that could bring about “epochal change”.
For many, Mr Merz is now leading a government of last chance. If it fails, the AfD will be waiting in the wings.
Exit polling suggests Germany no longer 'outlier' on far-right, analyst says
Sunday 23 February 2025 17:57 , Andy GregoryGermany’s exit poll results indicating the far-right has doubled its vote share to around 20 per cent are in line with a “broader trend throughout Europe”, an analyst has suggested.
Dr Jana Puglierin, of the European Council on Foreign Relations, told the BBC: “I think Germany has become a bit more normal, we have been an outlier in Europe with relatively small numbers of the far-right.”
Warning that this is “worrying me greatly”, Dr Puglierin warned that a new coalition government will have to deliver and warned that it is “crucial” for CDU leader Friedrich Merz’s bloc to secure at least 30 per cent of the vote or risk opening “the field for possible competitors”.
Merz declares victory and insists coalition talks will be swift after exit polls published
Sunday 23 February 2025 17:49 , Andy GregoryFrontrunner Friedrich Merz has declared victory for his CDU/CSU bloc after exit polls suggested they have secured nearly 30 per cent of the vote.
Speaking to supporters at an election event in Berlin, Mr Merz said: “It is important to form a government as soon as possible. We need a government with a good parliamentary majority because, my friends, the world outside is not waiting for us – and won’t wait for longlasting coalition negotiations.
“We need to be able to act soon so we can do everything that is required internally, to make sure that we’re present in Europe, and to make sure that everybody in the world sees that Germany has got a reliable and trustworthy government.
“That is what I am working for and what I am standing for.”
Mr Merz’s words were greeted with jubilance as he declared that attendees could now “party” at the election event as the ballots are counted.
However Deutsche Welle’s correspondent at the event described relief that a two-party coalition appeared to remain a possibility – but no “ecstatic” joy given that many supporters would hope to win a “psychologically important” 30 per cent of the vote, with exit polls putting the party’s vote share slightly below that.
Scholz's SPD says it is facing 'historic defeat'
Sunday 23 February 2025 17:35The incumbent Social Democratic Party (SPD) has said it is facing a “historic defeat” after exit polls suggested chancellor Olaf Sholz’s party was on course to take just 16 per cent of the vote, in what would mark its worst-ever result.
“This is a historic defeat for the SPD ...This is a very bitter evening,” said the party’s general secretary Matthias Miersch.
Mr Scholz had insisted in the final day of campaigning on Saturday that his party could emerge victorious, as he suggested that voters could cast both of their ballots for the SPD.
How do exit poll results compare with 2021 election?
Sunday 23 February 2025 17:26 , Andy GregoryExit poll results suggest vast gains for the far-right AfD party and a sizeable shift in the fortunes of Germany’s two largest parties – the incumbent Social Democratic Party (SPD) and frontrunners in the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
The number of smaller parties which make it over the 5 per cent threshold to enter parliament will likely decide the shape of the next government. If fewer parties succeed in doing so, frontrunner Friedrich Merz could be able to form a two-party coalition, but if seats are more dispersed, then he could be forced into a more unwieldy three-party agreement.
Exit polling reported by Deutcshe Welle suggests the final result could be:
- CDU/CSU: 29 per cent
- AfD: 19.5 per cent
- SPD: 16 per cent
- Green Party: 13.5 per cent
- Left Party: 8.5 per cent
- FDP: 4.9 per cent
- BSW: 4.7 per cent
- Others: 3.9 per cent
Here is how that would compare with the results from the 2021 election:
- SPD : 25.7 per cent
- CDU / CSU : 24.1 per cent
- Greens : 14.7 per cent
- FDP : 11.4 per cent
- AfD : 10.4 per cent
- Left : 4.9 per cent
