Germany's conservative coalition, comprising the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), has emerged at the forefront of the country's 2025 federal election, according to preliminary figures released by German public broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening.
ARD's latest vote counts reveal that the CDU/CSU secured 28.5 percent of the vote, followed by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) with 20.6 percent and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) with 16.5 percent.
The Greens trailed in fourth place with 11.8 percent, ahead of Die Linke at 8.7 percent. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) are projected to receive 4.4 percent and 4.9 percent of the vote, respectively.
This election will determine the composition of the next Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. A party must garner at least 5 percent of the national vote to gain representation in the Bundestag.
ARD reported a voter turnout of 84 percent, marking the highest level since 1990. The newly elected parliament will select Germany's next chancellor following coalition negotiations among parties.
Friedrich Merz, the CDU/CSU's chancellor candidate, pledged to swiftly form a new government. \"Tonight we will celebrate and from tomorrow we start working,\" Merz stated after the vote. \"The world out there is not waiting for us.\"
In response to the election results, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged the SPD's historic defeat and stated that he would remain in office until a new coalition government is established. \"This is a bitter election result for the Social Democratic Party, it is also an electoral defeat,\" Scholz remarked. \"I have the responsibility for the election result.\"
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Germany's CDU/CSU leads federal election: preliminary results
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