Far-right party surges to second place in German election as Conservatives win
Germany’s recent national election has seen mainstream conservatives, led by Friedrich Merz, emerge victorious, while a far-right party has made significant gains to become the country’s second-largest political force. Merz, who has pledged to unite Europe against challenges from Russia and the United States, is likely to become the country’s next leader. Following a collapse in their coalition, the Social Democrats experienced a significant defeat, further highlighting the remarkable surge of the far-right party.
The electoral campaign was dominated by concerns surrounding the economic stagnation facing Europe’s largest economy and the necessity to address migration issues. Merz, in particular, has emphasized the need for a more stringent approach to migration, a stance that has caused some friction. Additionally, the backdrop of growing uncertainty surrounding the future of Ukraine and Europe’s relationship with the United States has added complexity to the political landscape.
The provisional results released by the electoral authority show that Merz’s Christian Democrats, in conjunction with the Social Democrats, have secured a combined majority of seats in the national legislature, with smaller parties failing to meet the electoral threshold. Merz aims to form a new government by Easter, ruling out a coalition with the far-right party, the AfD, which has now emerged as the country’s second-largest political entity.
As outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose party faced a sharp defeat, remains at the helm of a caretaker government, the mainstream parties have maintained their majority in the face of the far-right surge. Merz’s conservatives clinched 208 seats, while the AfD secured 152. The former governing coalition parties witnessed a decline in their seat count, with the Social Democrats at 120 and the Greens at 85. The Free Democrats failed to meet the electoral threshold, while the Left party garnered 64 seats.
The AfD, celebrating its newfound prominence, aspires to become the leading party in the next election, marking a noteworthy milestone in its evolution as a political force. However, the party faces challenges in joining state or national governments due to resistance from other parties against collaborating with it. Criticism over the party’s alleged right-wing extremism has posed obstacles to its integration into governmental structures.
Merz remains committed to the task of unifying Europe in the face of external pressures from the U.S. and Russia. Expressing awareness of the challenging road ahead, he underscored the urgency of establishing a functional government to address pressing issues like foreign policy and trade. With a focus on European unity and global relationships, Germany’s political future under Merz’s leadership will hold considerable significance for the country and its role on the international stage.