The centre-right CDU party has won the German elections but achieved a historically low result. The far-right AfD doubled its support, although it fell short of expectations. However, the biggest loser in Sunday's vote is the SPD party of incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which has been relegated to third place for the first time in history.
Exit polls from Germany’s election were released right on time at 6:00 PM on Sunday, showing the CDU/CSU in the lead with 29 percent of the vote. The AfD followed with 19.5 percent, while the Socialist SPD secured third place at 16 percent. The Green Party came in at 13.5 percent, and Die Linke surprised many by earning 8.5 percent.
While most results were in line with expectations, the liberal FDP faced a major setback. After playing a key role in bringing down the previous government – leading to this very election – the party is projected to receive just 4.9 percent of the vote.
This puts them just below the crucial 5 percent threshold needed to enter parliament.
Another unexpected twist came from Die Linke. Pre-election polls had estimated the party at around 5 percent, but exit polls suggest a much stronger showing at 8.5 percent.
If confirmed, this would mark a major victory for a party with deep roots in East Germany’s former Communist regime.
Die Linke’s biggest rival – the party led by dissident member Sahra Wagenknecht – performed poorly in the polls and is unlikely to meet the 5 percent threshold needed to sit in the Bundestag.
In the wake of the exit polls, all of Germany's parties have organised “election night” events, but the atmosphere will differ vastly from one to the other.
The AfD is celebrating, but their premises was cordoned off by police over plans by left-wing groups to “interfere” with their festivities.
Celebrations notwithstanding for the victorious CDU, party leader Friedrich Merz is now facing the unenviable task of forming a coalition.
“The mathematics have begun” according to one commentator with the national ARD TV channel.
As there will likely be only five parties in parliament, the combinations are limited.
The coalition possibilities – as they stand – are a troika of either CDU-SPD-Greens or CDU-SPD-Die Linke.
As the CDU – and other parties – have rejected forming a coalition government with the AfD, an alliance with the far right is highly unlikely.
Nevertheless, AfD leader Alice Weidel has claimed, just minutes after the results were announced, that the AfD is “now a mainstream party” and that their hand “remains outstreched” to the CDU.
But even if Merz breaks his election promises – as he showed that he is not against cooperating with the AfD, given a recent joint proposal on immigration – he would still need a third party to form a government.
Merz is due to give a press conference on Monday, where he may shed light on what he has in mind for the days and weeks of political horse-trading ahead.
