Germany, conservative CDU/CSU

Factbox-What kind of coalition government could Germany have after the election?
Germany may face months of uncertainty after the CDU/CSU conservative bloc won the national election but with no clear option for forming a government amid a fragmented political landscape. With as many as seven parties possibly entering parliament,
LIVE
'We have won the election': Germany's conservative leaders celebrate as far-right takes second place
On 23 February, Germany will vote to decide who will run their next federal government. There’s five candidates running to be chancellor – the frontrunner is Friedrich Mertz from the Christian Democrat party. In Germany, a single party rarely wins the majority of seats in the Bundestag, meaning coalition governments often form.
Exit polls in Germany's 2025 election give Merz's conservatives lead and put far right on strongest postwar showing
Exit polls show the center-right Christian Democratic Union party leading, with the AfD party heading towards the strongest showing of the far-right since World War II.
Germany set for tricky coalition building, poll shows ahead of election
Germany's mainstream political parties lost support while the far-right AfD gained ground in one of the last polls published before the election on Sunday, pointing to likely tricky coalition building that could drag on for months.
Germany’s election winner pledges ‘independence from US’
Germany’s Friedrich Merz promised to “achieve independence” from the US after his centre-right bloc won federal elections, putting him at the head of a potentially complex coalition at a time of upheaval for Europe.
Germany's conservatives win federal election, exit polls show
The Christian Democratic Union and its allied Christian Social Union secured the largest share of votes in the German federal election, exit polls show.
What kind of coalition government could Germany have after the election?
Germany may face months of uncertainty after the CDU/CSU conservative bloc won the national election but with no clear option for forming a government amid a fragmented political landscape.
Alternative for Germany set to make gains as Germany goes to the polls
Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats are poised to win, as the Social Democratic Party faces its worst result since 1887
German election: Voters turn out to decide next government
Polls have opened in Germany's parliamentary election that was brought forward by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz' ruling coalition in November. Polls opened at 8 a.m. and are set to close at 6 p.
Germany braces for pivotal elections as far-right makes further gains
German politicians made a last push for votes on Saturday ahead of pivotal elections, with the far right making rapid gains amid economic woes and security concerns.
Germany braces for pivotal elections as parties wrap up campaigns
German are set to vote for their next leader on Sunday in the country’s snap federal election. The election is expected to feature a high voter turnout with incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz up against a considerable opposition from the CDU and far-right AfD parties.

Germany, AfD

New leader of Germany must build coalition in divided country
Germany is at a crossroads and now for Friedrich Merz the hard work begins, writes Berlin correspondent Jessica Parker.
What to Know About Germany’s Election Results
Conservative leader Friedrich Merz won a lackluster victory, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded his center-left Social ...
Asia One8m
German election victor Merz plans pivot from US as coalition talks loom
Friedrich Merz, set to become Germany's next chancellor after his opposition conservatives won the national election on ...
Germany's new Chancellor-elect Merz to seek coalition government, pledges to shift away from US
Merz, 69, now faces difficult and time-consuming coalition discussions after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ...
Germany’s Votes Are Cast. What Happens Now?
How long all of that would take remains to be seen; in the past, it has varied greatly from government to government. In 2017 ...
German election results 2025 – live: Trump hails ‘great day for Germany’ as Merz’s Conservatives claim victory
Trump hails ‘great day for Germany’ as Merz’s Conservatives claim victory - AfD set for strongest result ever while incumbent ...
Germany Election Results: Center-Right Leader Declares Victory—And Elon Musk-Boosted AfD Celebrates
Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) declared victory Sunday as exit polls and early results suggest the ...
Friedrich Merz, a Conservative, Is Poised to Be Germany’s Next Chancellor
The Christian Democrat, who appeared to have a path to a stable governing coalition, hopes to lead Europe’s response to ...