POLITICS
Conservatives win German election
February 24, 2025 - Friedrich Merz’s conservatives have won the most votes in Germany’s general election, but a dramatic surge by the far-right AfD is likely to complicate the formation of a government.
Related Graphics
View More
Poll highlights U.S. public fears of Trump tariffs
Canada goes to the polls
Friedrich Merz to become chancellor on May 6
DOGE cuts raise conflict of interest questions
Liberals get Trump bounce in Canada polls
China to “fight to the end” against Trump tariffs
Trump says U.S., Iran set for direct nuclear talks
Global markets tumble following Trump tariffs
Trump lops $200bn off richest people’s wealth
“Simplistic” tariffs threaten global economy
Opposition chief leads candidates eyeing South Korean presidency
WHO facing massive deficit
Trump tariffs pile stress on ailing world economy
Tesla backlash triggered by Musk’s far-right antics
How the U.S. trade deficit differs by country
Can Donald Trump serve a third term as U.S. president?
Marine Le Pen found guilty of misusing EU funds
Trump vents anger with Putin over Ukraine
Countries that will be hit hardest by Trump’s 25% auto tariff
Vance makes “aggressive” visit to Greenland
Who’s who in Signal chat scandal
Sabotage attacks across Europe blamed on Russia
PM Carney calls snap election in Canada for April 28
Trump tariffs crash markets as sell-off gathers steam
U.S. federal spending rises despite Musk’s DOGE cuts
Centre-right party springs surprise in Greenland elections
Mark Carney wins Liberal leadership by landslide
Trump tariffs are trying to reduce U.S. trade deficit
Trump’s new tariffs will be effective from March 4
Zelensky to meet Trump for preliminary minerals deal
The conservative CDU/CSU bloc came in first place on 28.6%, ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany on 20.8%, its best ever result, according to provisional results.
The conservatives, however, rule out working with the AfD, a party which is monitored by German security services on suspicion of extremism but has been endorsed by U.S. figures including billionaire Elon Musk.
That means Merz will have to negotiate with Scholz’s centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) to form a coalition in talks that are likely to take months, Reuters reports.