Conservative Opposition Wins German Election, Far Right Sees Strongest Postwar Result
The conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz won a lackluster victory in a national election Sunday, while Alternative for Germany doubled its support in the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II. Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat for his center-left Social Democrats after what he called “a bitter election result.” Projections showed that ARD and ZDF public television placed Merz’s Union bloc at 28.5% of the vote, while the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured about 20.5%, roughly double its previous result from 2021.
- The historic rise of the far-right party in Germany underscores a concerning trend in the country's politics, where growing polarization and division are eroding trust in traditional institutions.
- As Germany takes center stage in shaping Europe's response to global challenges, including Ukraine and trade policy under the Trump administration, how will its new government navigate the complexities of international relations while maintaining domestic stability?