Friedrich Merz's Conservatives Achieve Victory in German Elections as Far-Right Gains Momentum

Germany's opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, led his conservatives to a modest victory in the national election. Meanwhile, Alternative for Germany (AfD) nearly doubled its support, marking the strongest performance for a far-right party since World War II. Chancellor Olaf Scholz admitted defeat for his Social Democrats, describing it as "a bitter election result." Projections indicated his party finished third with its worst postwar outcome.

Merz expressed his intention to swiftly form a coalition government, though the ease of this task remains uncertain. The election occurred seven months earlier than planned due to Scholz's unpopular coalition collapsing in November. This collapse happened three years into a term plagued by internal conflicts. The campaign was overshadowed by concerns about Germany's economic stagnation and migration issues.

Election Results and Coalition Challenges

Projections based on exit polls and partial counts showed Merz's Union bloc receiving just under 29% support. AfD garnered approximately 20%, nearly doubling its 2021 result. Scholz's Social Democrats secured just over 16%, significantly lower than their previous low of 20.5% in 2017. The Greens, part of the outgoing government, received 12-13% support.

The hard-left Left Party strengthened its position with up to 9% of the vote after a notable campaign comeback. Meanwhile, the pro-business Free Democrats and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance hovered around the 5% threshold needed for parliamentary seats.

Forming a Viable Government

Merz faces the challenge of forming a coalition with Scholz's Social Democrats or potentially needing another partner. He emphasised the importance of quickly establishing a functional government in Germany. "I am aware of the responsibility," Merz stated. "I am also aware of the scale of the task that now lies ahead of us."

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck from the Greens suggested that Merz should moderate his tone after a contentious campaign. "We have seen the center is weakened overall," Habeck noted, urging self-reflection among parties.

AfD's Historic Gains

AfD's candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, celebrated their achievement as "the second-strongest force." The party's previous best was 12.6% in 2017 when it first entered parliament. Weidel expressed openness to coalition talks with Merz's party but noted that without cooperation, policy change in Germany is unlikely.

However, Merz and other mainstream parties have consistently ruled out working with AfD. AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla declared their success as historic, stating, "We have gained 100 per cent." Scholz criticised AfD's rise, asserting it must never be accepted.

Concerns Over Far-Right Support

The head of Germany's main Jewish organisation, Josef Schuster, expressed concern over AfD's support. He highlighted that a fifth of German voters backing a party linked to right-wing extremism is alarming. Schuster warned against AfD's exploitation of fears and superficial solutions.

More than 59 million Germans were eligible to elect 630 Bundestag members who will serve under Berlin's Reichstag dome. As Germany navigates these election results, forming a stable government remains crucial amid economic and geopolitical challenges.