Germany’s conservative party has emerged victorious in the recent national election, with preliminary results indicating a significant gain for the far-right party, which has now become the second-largest political force in the country. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz has declared the election a success, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz has acknowledged his defeat. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved its best outcome since World War II, marking a major shift in the political landscape.
According to the electoral authority’s results, the conservative bloc of CDU/CSU and the center-left Social Democrats together secured a majority of seats in the national legislature. Meanwhile, smaller parties were unable to surpass the required electoral threshold. The left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance narrowly missed securing representation in parliament by not reaching the 5% mark, and the pro-business Free Democrats also fell short of this threshold.
This election has taken place during a challenging time for Germany and Europe, as they face issues stemming from the new Trump administration, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and broader security concerns across the continent.
In a related development, Merz has expressed his intention to form a new government by Easter, although the feasibility of this timeline remains uncertain. In a televised announcement alongside fellow party leaders, he stated: “We have nearly eight weeks until Easter now, and I think that should be enough time — the maximum time — to form a government in Germany.” He emphasized that, by the time Easter arrives, the country will have been without a governing coalition holding a parliamentary majority for approximately six months.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s current government will continue to function in a caretaker capacity until the Bundestag elects a new chancellor.
Commenting on the election’s outcome, former President Donald Trump hailed it as “a great day for Germany” in a post on Truth Social, although he did not specify any particular political party. Trump noted, “Looks like the conservative party in Germany has won the very big and highly anticipated election.” His comments come amid recent support from his ally, Elon Musk, who endorsed AfD prior to the election. Additionally, U.S. Vice President JD Vance engaged with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel during a conference in Germany, highlighting growing ties between American conservatives and their German counterparts.
In his post, Trump asserted, “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,” emphasizing a shared sentiment among conservative voters in both nations.
