Germany’s recent election has delivered a victory for the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its leader Friedrich Merz, but the results also marked a historic rise for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). While the CDU secured 28.6% of the vote, falling short of its 30% target, the AfD achieved a record 20.8%, signaling a major shift in the country’s political landscape.
Friedrich Merz, addressing jubilant supporters, acknowledged the victory but emphasized the responsibility ahead. “Let’s celebrate tonight and in the morning we’ll get to work,” he declared, signaling the start of coalition negotiations. However, his path to forming a government remains uncertain, as the CDU has ruled out any cooperation with the AfD, maintaining the long-standing political firewall between mainstream parties and the far right.
The AfD’s Alice Weidel, despite her party’s unprecedented result, struck a bittersweet tone. “Germans have voted for change,” she said, while also expressing disappointment that the AfD had not performed even better. The party’s dominance in eastern Germany was striking, with projections indicating it had secured around 34% of the vote in the region.
A key factor in the AfD’s success was its effective social media strategy, particularly on TikTok, which helped it attract a large share of young voters. Additionally, public endorsements from high-profile figures such as billionaire Elon Musk and U.S. Vice President JD Vance fueled controversy. While many Germans were alarmed by their involvement Vance even faced accusations of election interference during a visit to Munich their support appeared to bolster the AfD’s appeal.
Meanwhile, the election proved disastrous for the Social Democrats (SPD) under Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The party suffered its worst-ever defeat, garnering only 16.4% of the vote. Scholz admitted the results were a “bitter defeat” and announced that he would not participate in coalition talks.
Merz, aiming to build a stable government, had hoped for a clear mandate to form a two-party coalition. However, given the election outcome, he may be forced into complex negotiations, possibly involving the Greens. This is despite past tensions between the CDU and Green leader Robert Habeck, whom Merz had mocked as a mere “representative for heat pumps” before the vote.
As Germany grapples with economic stagnation, migration concerns, and geopolitical challenges, Merz has pledged to assert leadership in Europe and strengthen support for Ukraine. However, with the far right surging and coalition talks looming, the country faces an uncertain political future.
