Germans vote for Change: Merz and Conservatives secure top spot in Election

In a significant shift in Germany’s political landscape, voters turned to the centrist conservatives in a parliamentary election held on Sunday, rejecting the left-leaning government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz amid dissatisfaction over economic management and immigration policies. Early returns indicated that Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU), is poised to become the next chancellor, likely forming a government with just one coalition partner—a preferable scenario for his party.

“We have won it,” Merz declared to supporters in Berlin on Sunday evening, expressing his commitment to swiftly establish a parliamentary majority and restore strong leadership for Germany within Europe.

This election, conducted seven months ahead of schedule following the collapse of Scholz’s troubled three-party coalition, resulted in the highest voter turnout in decades, reflecting a robust engagement in the democratic process.

Merz, 69, has outlined plans to tighten immigration controls and reduce taxes and regulations to stimulate economic growth. He also aims for a more assertive foreign policy to support Ukraine and enhance Germany’s leadership role in Europe, especially amidst concerns about the new Trump administration’s impact on traditional alliances and its approach towards Russia.

While Merz has yet to hold a government minister position, he was viewed as a preferable counterpart to Trump compared to Scholz. However, he raised alarms during the campaign about the U.S.’s commitment to democracy under Trump, condemning perceived interference by Trump administration officials in favor of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. “My top priority will be to strengthen Europe to achieve real independence from the U.S.A.,” Merz stated after the polls closed.

Preliminary results showed that Merz’s CDU and its sister party, the Christian Social Union, garnered nearly 29 percent of the votes—historically low for the leading party in a German election and the second-lowest for the CDU in a chancellor bid. These results underscore the deepening divisions within German politics and the challenges faced by mainstream centrist parties.

As speculation mounted about potential coalition formations, it appeared Merz might replicate the centrist coalitions that characterized German governance during Angela Merkel’s 16-year chancellorship. Early Monday returns suggested that the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, a pro-Russia faction of the left, narrowly missed the 5 percent threshold needed to enter Parliament, potentially allowing Merz’s party and the Social Democrats to secure a majority without additional partners.

Had another small party made it into Parliament, Merz would have faced challenges in crafting a stable coalition, raising concerns of a government similar to the one that recently collapsed. While he has pledged not to partner with the AfD—whose controversial members have a history of minimizing the Holocaust—the results indicate the AfD’s growing influence in German politics, doubling its vote share from four years ago.

Riding on a platform that resonates with voters frustrated by the influx of refugees from various regions over the past decade, the AfD managed to secure notable support, particularly in former East Germany, where it finished first.

As Germany transitions into a new political era, the implications of this election for domestic and European policy will be closely monitored.