Conservatives win German election while far-right party surges to second place

Provisional results confirmed that mainstream conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won Germany’s national election, while a far-right party surged to become the nation’s second-largest.

The campaign was dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy and pressure to curb migration, something that caused friction after Mr Merz pushed hard in recent weeks for a tougher approach.

It took place against a background of growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe’s alliance with the United States.

The results released by the electoral authority showed Mr Merz’s Christian Democrats and the centre-left Social Democrats winning a combined majority of seats in the national legislature after small parties failed to make the electoral threshold.

That gives Mr Merz the best chance of becoming the country’s next chancellor. He said on election night that he hopes to form a government by Easter at the latest.

He has ruled out a coalition with the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, which is now the country’s second-largest party after its best showing ever.

Mr Merz’s conservatives won 208 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag, while the AfD won 152. The incumbent Social Democrats won 120 seats and the Left party got 64.

The left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance came in just barely under the 5% hurdle needed to get seats in parliament, while the pro-business Free Democrats also failed to reach 5%.

The AfD was jubilant on Sunday night, with leaders vowing to become the country’s main party in the next election as its appeal expands.

The anti-immigrant, far-right party has established itself as a significant political force in the 12 years since it was founded, but it has not yet been part of any state or national government.

That is the result of what is often called a “firewall” against Alternative for Germany. Other parties say they will not work with the AfD, which is under observation by the domestic intelligence agency for suspected right-wing extremism, something that AfD objects to strongly.

Its branches in three eastern states are designated “proven right-wing extremist” groups, which is particularly sensitive in view of Germany’s Nazi past.

For the time being outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose SPD party suffered a stinging defeat, will remain.

The election took place seven months earlier than originally planned after Mr Scholz’s unpopular coalition collapsed in November, three years into a term that was increasingly marred by infighting.

There was widespread discontent and not much enthusiasm for any of the candidates.

“I am aware of the responsibility,” Mr Merz said on Sunday evening. “I am also aware of the scale of the task that now lies ahead of us. I approach it with the utmost respect, and I know that it will not be easy.”

“The world out there isn’t waiting for us, and it isn’t waiting for long-drawn-out coalition talks and negotiations,” he told cheering supporters.