Germany's conservatives, led by Friedrich Merz, won the national election, positioning him to become the next chancellor. The far-right AfD secured its best-ever result, while coalition talks face challenges over migration and dealing with the AfD in the context of Germany's history.
Germany's opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday, putting leader Friedrich Merz on track to be the next chancellor while the far-right Alternative for Germany came in second, its best ever result, exit polls showed.
Following a campaign roiled by a series of violent attacks, and interventions by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc won 28.5% of the vote, followed by the AfD with 20%, an exit poll published by ZDF public broadcaster showed.
Merz, 69, has no previous government experience but has promised to provide greater leadership than Chancellor Olaf Scholz and to liaise more with key allies, restoring Germany to the heart of Europe.
A brash economic liberal who has shifted the conservatives to the right, he is considered the antithesis of former conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years.
Short of a majority in an increasingly fragmented political landscape, however, his conservatives will have to sound out partners to form a coalition.
Those negotiations are certain to be tricky after a campaign which exposed sharp divisions over migration and how to deal with the AfD in a country where far-right politics carry a particularly strong stigma due to its Nazi past.
That could leave Scholz in a caretaker role for months, delaying urgently needed policies to revive Europe's largest economy after two consecutive years of contraction and as companies struggle against global rivals.
It would also create a leadership vacuum in the heart of Europe even as it deals with a host of challenges including U.S. President Donald Trump threatening a trade war and attempting to fast-track a ceasefire deal for Ukraine without European involvement.
Germany, which has an export-oriented economy and long relied on the United States for its security, is particularly vulnerable.
Germans are more pessimistic about their living standards now than at any time since the financial crisis in 2008.
Attitudes towards migration have also hardened, a profound shift in German public sentiment since its "Refugees Welcome" culture during Europe's migrant crisis in 2015, that the AfD has both driven and harnessed.
The African Union has endorsed a campaign to end the use of the Mercator map, saying it distorts Africa’s true size and reinforces outdated stereoty...
Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar has called on Russia to guarantee it will not interfere in Hungary’s politics, saying any future cooperatio...
Global investors are eyeing defence and energy sectors as European leaders rally behind Ukraine amid signs the U.S. may push Kyiv to accept a peace de...
Russia offered concessions on all five occupied Ukrainian regions during the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, and the U.S. may provide direct security ...
Speaking at a joint press conference in Brussels with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, von der Leyen outlined Europe’s position ahead of Mon...
Berlin, February 21, 2025 – German citizens will head to the polls on Sunday, February 23, for a snap general election after the coalition government collapsed late last year.
Berlin, Germany, February 17, 2025 – X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, is contesting a Berlin court order issued on February 7 that mandates immediate access to public platform data for two civil society organizations.
Berlin, February 17, 2025 - German voters head to the polls on February 23 to decide who will lead the country’s next government in a snap election triggered by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left coalition.
Germany will hold a snap national election on Feb. 23 following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition. Here’s an overview of the main parties, their poll standings, and key policy issues.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 56 kilometres east of Gorgan in northern Iran early Sunday morning, according to preliminary seismic data.
A deadly heatwave has claimed 1,180 lives in Spain since May, with elderly people most at risk, prompting calls for urgent social support.
Media accreditation is now open for COP30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, set to take place in Belém, Brazil in 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump may offer NATO-like protection for Ukraine, a move that Russia is open to, according to his top foreign policy aide. The suggestion comes ahead of talks in Washington with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders on possible security guarantees.
A 5.8-magnitude undersea earthquake hit Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Sunday, injuring 29 people and damaging buildings, including a church where worshippers were gathered.
Three men have been killed and nine others wounded in a gang-related shooting at a crowded nightclub in Brooklyn, despite New York City recording historic lows in gun violence this year.
The African Union has endorsed a campaign to end the use of the Mercator map, saying it distorts Africa’s true size and reinforces outdated stereotypes.
Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar has called on Russia to guarantee it will not interfere in Hungary’s politics, saying any future cooperation depends on respecting the country’s sovereignty.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment