German Election: Exit Polls Show Conservative Lead

The first results from Germany's snap elections indicate that the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is on track to regain power. Celebration erupted at party headquarters as exit polls showed the CDU/CSU coalition securing 29% of the vote.

This positions Friedrich Merz, a veteran conservative who has never held government office, as the likely next chancellor of Germany, Europe’s largest economy.

The far-right also saw a major surge. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured 19.5% of the vote, nearly doubling its support since the 2021 elections. This result could make it the largest opposition force in parliament.

Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by current Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is projected to finish in third place—a sharp decline from its 25.7% vote share in 2021.

Among the smaller parties, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) failed to reach the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament, while the Left Party (Die Linke) surpassed it, securing 8.5% of the vote.

Polling stations opened at 8 AM and closed at 6 PM (local time), with votes being counted manually. The preliminary official results will be released on Monday morning (Feb 24).

The Main Candidates

• Friedrich Merz (CDU/CSU): The front-runner for chancellor, 69-year-old Merz represents the center-right. His party was led by Angela Merkel from 2005 to 2021, though he has long been a critic of her leadership. Immigration was a key campaign issue for him, as he promised tighter border controls and the deportation of undocumented migrants.

• Alice Weidel (AfD): The far-right candidate advocates for strict immigration policies. A 46-year-old economist, Weidel argues that "mass immigration" must be reversed. Despite the AfD’s growing popularity, the party remains politically isolated, with mainstream parties refusing to cooperate with it.

• Olaf Scholz (SPD): The incumbent chancellor, who has been in office since 2021, has seen his center-left party drop to 16% in exit polls. Despite this setback, Scholz told Der Spiegel magazine that he still believes he has a 60% chance of remaining in office. His administration has focused on social policies, including raising the minimum wage and implementing a progressive tax system.

With conservatives in the lead and the far-right making significant gains, forming Germany’s next governing coalition will be the country's next major political challenge.

See more in: https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/internacional/eleicao-na-alemanha-boca-de-urna-mostra-lideranca-de-conservadores/