German election: Merz leads CDU toward victory

Friedrich Merz’s CDU likely to win German election, faces challenges forming a government amid far-right gains and economic issues.

In Short

Friedrich Merz is poised to win the German election, leading the Christian Democratic Union with around 29% of the vote, while the far-right AfD performs strongly at 20%. He faces the challenge of forming a stable coalition in a fragmented parliament while addressing economic and geopolitical issues.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, is set to win the German election despite a strong performance from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Early estimates suggest that Merz’s CDU garnered approximately 29% of the vote. The AfD is projected to have around 20%, marking its best performance since its inception in 2013. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party is expected to achieve just over 16%, its lowest since the late 19th century.

Merz will begin talks to form a government and is anticipated to become Germany’s next chancellor. He explained the urgency to act on domestic and European affairs during his speech in Berlin.

The election resulted in a fragmented parliament comprising at least five parties. The challenge for Merz will be to forge a stable coalition with a solid majority, which may be complicated by the wide distribution of votes.

He faces substantial economic challenges, with the German economy struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic. Merz’s platform includes cutting immigration to counter the AfD’s appeal.

The incoming administration will need to address geopolitical tensions, particularly concerning relations with the U.S. and the situation in Ukraine.

Merz has rejected the idea of forming a coalition with the AfD, despite pressure from U.S. officials. Initial discussions may occur with the SPD, though a potential coalition could be complex and time-consuming.