By admin 
Berlin:
Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU alliance, led by Friedrich Merz, won Sunday’s elections with between 28.5% and 29% of the vote, according to initial exit polls from TV networks.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came in second place with 19.5% to 20%, roughly doubling its result from the 2021 elections, based on early data from public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.
The AfD’s rise was driven by public concerns over immigration and security, especially following a series of deadly attacks attributed to migrants, along with anxieties over the struggling economy.
Despite their strong performance, the AfD is expected to remain out of power for now, as its potential coalition partners reject any cooperation with the far-right party.
If the exit polls are confirmed in the final count, Merz appears set to become the next chancellor of Germany, Europe’s largest economy. However, to secure a majority in parliament, Merz would need to form a coalition with one or more other parties, potentially including the Social Democrats (SPD) of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The SPD recorded what is expected to be their worst result in the history of post-war Germany, with between 16% and 16.5%.
The Greens, another possible coalition partner for CDU/CSU, garnered 12% to 13.5% of the vote according to exit polls.
The final composition of the government could also depend on the results for smaller parties. The far-left Linke party seems to have crossed the five-percent threshold needed to enter the Bundestag, with 8.5% to 9% of the vote.
The pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), who were previously in government, are near the five-percent mark, as is the newcomer far-left party BSW.
Gill Bikram Singh