Conservatives Win Germany’s Elections as Far-Right Doubles Its Vote, According to Polls
Members of the CDU react to initial results during the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) election event in Berlin, Germany, 23 February 2025. About 60 million Germans were eligible to vote in the elections for a new federal parliament, the 20th. Photo: EFE/EPA/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE
February 23, 2025 Hour: 1:56 pm
The conservative bloc formed by the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Christian Union (CDU/CSU) was the most voted force in this Sunday’s general elections in Germany, with between 28.5% and 29%.
RELATED:
Polling Stations Close In Germany With Very High Turnout
Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), with between 19.5% and 20%, almost doubled its vote at the polls compared to the legislative elections of 2021.
According to the first polls published by the public television stations ZDF and ARD, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) is in third place with between 16% and 16.5%, the Greens with 12% or 13%, and the Left with 8.5% to 9%.
With regard to the liberal FDP party, which would have obtained between 4.9% and 5%, and the left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which would have achieved between 4.7% and 5%.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) would therefore be the second political force in the Central European country and achieves a historic result compared to the 10.4% of the votes it obtained in the 2021 legislative elections.
The exit polls offer few surprises, but everything will now depend on whether the FDP and BSW enter the ‘Bundestag’ or Lower House, as this will determine what kind of coalition the leader of the conservatives, Friedrich Merz, who would be the next chancellor, can form.
According to the ARD poll, which leaves out the liberals and the BSW, a grand coalition between conservatives and social democrats would be possible, as they would total 327 seats out of 630 that will make up the Lower House.
Fuente: EFE
