Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been left humiliated as the SPD faces a ‘bitter’ catastrophe in the German election. The ruling party fell to third place, with just 16% of the vote.
Scholz told voters that “the result is very bitter for the SPD”. He said he will not represent the party “in a federal government led by the CDU, nor will I negotiate for it”.
Projected results from Germany’s elections show the Christian Democrats on course for victory, after secuing around 29% of the vote, but has said it will not partner with hard-right party AfD.
Alternative for Germany (AfD) astonishingly shot to second place with around 21% of the vote, the best result for a far-right party in Germany since WW2.
Germans headed to the polls on Sunday (February 23) to choose a new government in an election dominated by migration, a stagnating economy, and Germany’s role in the Ukraine war following Donald Trump’s election in the US.
As the European Union’s most populous country and a key NATO member, Germany will play a crucial role in shaping the continent’s response to future challenges, including the Trump administration’s confrontational foreign and trade policies. Germany has been a significant supplier of weapons to Ukraine, second only to the US.
CDU/CSU leader Merz has promised “stability instead of chaos” following the collapse of Scholz’s three-party coalition, which was marked by protracted internal disputes, including disagreements over how to revitalise the economy.
However, it remains uncertain whether the conservative leader, if victorious, will be able to form a stable government that performs significantly better. Merz hopes for a two-party coalition but may require a third partner to establish a government.
Despite support for the AfD—currently tipped for second place—all other parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the Right-wing party, meaning there is little chance of leader Alice Weidel becoming the next chancellor.
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