2025 Germany Federal Election Results: CDU/CSU Bloc Wins
The CDU/CSU bloc's victory marks a significant shift in German politics, with the AfD's strong performance posing a challenge to the democratic center. Merz's commitment to maintaining a close relationship with the US, despite the challenges posed by the Trump administration's policies, will be crucial in navigating the country's foreign policy.
Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has won the 2025 Germany federal election with a record performance, securing 28.5% of the vote, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party celebrated a record of over 20% of the vote, becoming the second-largest force in parliament.
The election saw a record turnout of 82.5%, with more than four in five voters casting their ballots. The AfD's rise is linked to a series of deadly attacks allegedly by immigrants, and the party's policy of "remigration" which can refer to mass deportation of migrants and their descendants. The party's strong performance was fueled by its anti-immigration and anti-Islam platform, which resonated with voters in the former communist east.
Merz must now reach out to his former campaign-trail foes, including the SPD, to establish a governing alliance. The conservatives will first enter talks without Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who apologized for the SPD's "bitter" defeat. Merz has also vowed to prevent the AfD from becoming a major force in German politics, warning that its rise is the "last warning" for the democratic center.
The new government will face "Herculean tasks" in domestic and foreign policy, including building up Germany's defenses and negotiating with Russia. The European Union has welcomed Merz's victory, with French President Emmanuel Macron expressing his desire to work with him for a "strong and sovereign Europe".
As Merz plans to form a coalition government with Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) and has set a goal of completing the negotiations by Easter, the future of German politics remains uncertain, with the AfD's rise posing a significant challenge to the democratic center.
