CDU Wins German Election, AfD Surges to Second Place

Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU secures a narrow path to form a government, while SPD suffers historic losses and the Left Party stages a comeback.

The CDU/CSU emerged as the largest party with 28.6% of the vote, paving the way for Friedrich Merz to become Germany's next chancellor.
The far-right AfD doubled its vote share to 20.8%, becoming the second-largest party and achieving significant gains in eastern Germany.
The SPD recorded its worst-ever result at 16.4%, raising questions about its leadership and future direction.
The Left Party secured a surprising 8.8%, driven by strong youth support and targeted social policies, while the FDP and BSW failed to meet the 5% threshold.
High voter turnout of 82.5%, the highest since reunification, underscored the electorate's engagement in a fragmented political landscape.