Elections
Germany has chosen
Early in the morning in Germany, the provisional final results of the Bundestag elections were announced, with the following outcomes:
- The conservative CDU party and its chancellor candidate, Friedrich Merz, have won the elections and are the strongest force with 28.5%.
- The liberal FDP and the new left-wing conservative alliance led by Sarah Wagenknecht will not be represented in the new Bundestag, as they did not reach the required 5% threshold.
- Extreme and populist forces are gaining significant ground, particularly the right-wing populist AfD party, which is partially classified as far-right by the German Intelligence Service. With 20.8%, it is the second strongest party at the national level. In Eastern Germany, it has even become the leading force. Additionally, the party Die Linke (The Left), the successor to the SED, which has changed names several times, achieved a strong result with 8.7%.
Migration and the Economy as Key Campaign Issues
The election campaign was short but highly intense. After the collapse of the so-called traffic light coalition under Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in late autumn 2024, the Bundestag elections were moved up from September 2025 to last Sunday.
Following several horrific attacks in Germany in December, January, and February, migration became the central issue in the debate. The far-right AfD party made it the core of its campaign, openly opposing migration, integration, and asylum. The CDU also advocated for tightening migration policies.
However, the economy was also a crucial issue: Germany’s economy has been in crisis for years, with consistently declining growth rates, increasing bureaucracy, and skyrocketing energy prices as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
A total of 82.5% of voters cast their ballots, and five parliamentary groups will be represented in the new Bundestag: the conservative CDU, the right-wing populist AfD, the Social Democratic SPD, the Greens, and The Left.
What’s Next?
Friedrich Merz (CDU) will now begin coalition negotiations to form a new government. From the outset, he has ruled out a coalition with the AfD, making an alliance with the Social Democratic SPD the only viable option.
The possibility of forming a government between two democratic parties (i.e., without the participation of AfD, The Left, or BSW—parties considered populist and, in some cases, pro-Putin extremists) is due to BSW’s failure to enter the Bundestag. This should make negotiations easier for Merz, allowing him to set clear boundaries for the new government and avoiding the complexity of a tripartite alliance.
The election results have left Germany in shock: the strengthening of political parties at both extremes, the exit or non-entry of two parties into the Bundestag, and historically poor results for traditional parties. What Germany and Europe need now to tackle their challenges and maintain stability on the international stage is, above all, one thing: a stable government.
Germany as the Leader of the Free World?
Beyond domestic policy challenges, international politics is becoming increasingly complex.
During Donald Trump's first term, The New York Times described Angela Merkel as the last leader of the free world. Now, in Trump’s second term, that role could fall to Friedrich Merz.
The United States is openly questioning its role in NATO and its historic alliance with Europe. The same applies to its support for Ukraine, where Russia continues to wage a brutal war in Europe, just two hours by flight from Berlin.
The statements from the Trump administration are disturbing and bizarre, whether regarding Putin’s role, Ukraine and its president Zelensky, or interference in the German election campaign. Elon Musk publicly called for votes for right-wing populist parties and even mimicked the Nazi salute on a public stage. And lastly, but no less significantly, Vice President Vance claims that freedom of speech is under threat in Germany because antisemitism and hate speech are criminal offenses—something I, as a European and especially as a German, am proud of.
In these turbulent times, we need strong leadership in Germany, Europe, and the free world—leadership that firmly defends democracy, the rule of law, and a peaceful international order.
Let’s hope Friedrich Merz rises to the challenge.