German Election: Merz’s Conservatives Triumph As AFD Surges To Historic Second Place

Friedrich Merz’s center right CDU is the clear winner of the German election. The question now for the conservative leader is how fast and with whom he can cobble together a government, and how well it will work with US leadership.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat for his center-left Social Democrats after what he called “a bitter election result.” Projections for ARD and ZDF public television showed his party finishing in third place with its worst postwar result in a national parliamentary election.

Alternative for Germany, a party that focuses on stopping unfettered immigration into Germany, doubled its support. Dubbed by many in legacy media as “far right,” the AFD posted the best electoral showing for a strongly right wing party in postwar Germany.

The election took place seven months earlier than originally planned after 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.

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 Merz pushed hard in recent weeks for a tougher approach.

The election also came shortly after Vice President Vance called out Europe, particularly Germany’s, extreme censorship of free speech. It also comes amid the diminishment of influence of the entire continent of Europe on global affairs, and a rift with a US government that wants Europe to pull more of its weight.

While Merz’s CDU has vowed to not work with the AFD, the German and broader European establishment can only ignore the calls from their people to stem immigration for so long.

Mr Merz has won a victory, but he has a long and arduous road ahead of him as Germany’s next Chancellor.