Germany’s conservatives secured victory in Sunday’s election, with Friedrich Merz set to become chancellor, while the far-right AfD made historic gains.
Exit polls show the AfD nearly doubling its vote share to 19.5 percent, fueled by concerns over immigration and security.
Merz’s CDU/CSU alliance won 28.5 percent, while the center-left SPD of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz suffered a major defeat at 16 percent.
Merz has vowed a crackdown on irregular migration to counter the AfD’s rise but must first form a coalition government.
Despite its gains, the AfD remains isolated as mainstream parties refuse to cooperate, though leader Alice Weidel declared her party ready to govern.
The election comes amid global uncertainty, with NATO tensions rising and fears of a U.S.-EU trade war under Donald Trump.
Germany’s economic future is at stake, as smaller parties like the FDP and Die Linke struggle to stay in the Bundestag.
A recent wave of deadly attacks linked to asylum seekers further fueled voter concerns, strengthening the AfD’s position.
Analysts warn that if mainstream parties fail to address public frustrations, the far right could seize power next time.
