Berlin-the provisional results confirmed that conventional conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won the national elections of Germany, while an extreme right party became the second largest in the nation.
The campaign was dominated by concerns about the stagnation of the years of the largest economy and pressure in Europe to stop migration, something that caused friction after Merz pressed in recent weeks for a harder approach. It took place in a context of growing uncertainty about the future of Ukraine and the European Alliance with the United States.
The results published by the electoral authority showed the Christian Democrats of Merz and the social democrats of the left-left gaining a combined majority of seats in the national legislature after the small parties could not do the electoral threshold.
That gives Merz the best opportunity to become the next chancellor in the country. He said on the night of the elections that he hopes to form a government for Easter no later than.
He has ruled out a coalition with the far -right alternative for Germany, or AFD, which is now the second largest party in the country after its best performance.
At the moment, the chancellor who comes out Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democratic party suffered a sharp defeat, will remain.
The conservatives of Merz won 208 seats in the 630 seat Bundestag, while the AFD won 152. The three games in the old ruling coalition lost seats, with the SDP falling to 120 seats and the green to 85. The Democrats in favor of The companies, which were activated the early elections when withdrawing from the coalition, failed to reach 5% of the vote required for win seats.
The Left Party obtained 64 seats, while the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance arrived just below the 5%obstacle.
The AFD was jubilant on Sunday night, with leaders who promised to become the country’s main party in the next elections as its appeal expands. The anti -immigrant and extreme right party has been established as a significant political force in the 12 years since it was founded, but has not yet been part of any state or national government.
That is the result of what is often called a “Firewall” against the alternative for Germany. Other parties say they will not work with the AFD, which is under observation by the domestic intelligence agency for suspicion of right -wing extremism, something that AFD opposes strongly. Its branches in three eastern states are “right -wing” extremist groups designated, which is particularly sensitive in view of the Nazi past of Germany.
The election took place seven months earlier than originally planned after the unpopular coalition of Scholz collapsed in November, three years in a term that was increasingly tarnished by internal struggles. There was a generalized discontent and not much enthusiasm for any of the candidates.
Merz said Sunday night that his highest priority is to unify Europe against the challenges from the United States and Russia. Both vice president JD Vance and Trump Elon Musk’s ally openly supported the AFD.
“I have no illusions at all about what is happening from the United States,” he told the followers. “Take a look at the recent interventions in the German electoral campaign of Mr. Elon Musk.”
He added that “Washington’s interventions were no less dramatic and drastic and, ultimately, scandalous than the interventions we have seen from Moscow. Therefore, we are under such a massive pressure of two sides that my absolute priority now is really creating Unity in Europe “.
Germany is the most populous country of the European Union of 27 nations and main member of NATO. It has been the second largest arms supplier in Ukraine, after the United States, and will be essential to shape the response of the continent to the challenges of the coming years, including the commercial and commercial policy of confrontation of the Trump administration.
The conservative leader said that “the most important thing is to restore a viable government in Germany as quickly as possible.”
“I am aware of responsibility,” said Merz. “I am also aware of the scale of the task that is now ahead of us. I address it with the greatest respect, and I know it will not be easy. ”
“The world is not waiting for us, and is not waiting for the conversations and negotiations of the coalition long drawn,” Cheering supporters told.
