Information
The conservative Union bloc, composed of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), celebrated a victory in the 2025 German federal elections with their leader Friedrich Merz proclaiming success on election night in Berlin. Despite their win, the mood at the party headquarters was subdued as the Union had anticipated a stronger performance, aiming for “30% plus X,” but only managed to secure about 28% of the vote. This outcome falls short of allowing them to govern alone, necessitating the search for coalition partners to achieve a governing majority under Germany’s proportional representation system.
The election also saw a significant rise in support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a populist party with segments deemed right-wing extremist, which secured the second-highest share of the vote at 20%. AfD’s co-leader Alice Weidel highlighted the party’s growth, stating that the CDU and CSU could only fulfill their campaign promises by collaborating with AfD. However, Friedrich Merz and the Union have firmly excluded any coalition with the AfD, citing major ideological differences on several key issues including foreign policy and European integration. The political landscape is further complicated by the poor performance of the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens, both potential coalition partners for the Union, with the SPD recording its worst result since 1890, adding another layer of challenge as the Union seeks to form a viable government.
Source: Reuters, DW
So what
Germans voted clearly for change, much like every other European country that has gone to the ballot in the last few years. However, the majority voted for a somewhat subtle change, voting for the conservative party over the AfD party, which is widely considered to be the far-right party. While their boost in popularity is notable, it is highly unlikely they will get any power in this government. Yet, it is possible that if the situation in Germany doesn’t change, then the AfD may win a majority in the next election.
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