Historic Shift in German Politics; CDU/CSU Leads, AfD Surges in 2025 Election
The German federal election held on February 23, 2025, resulted in a significant political shift, with the conservative CDU/CSU alliance emerging as the largest party, securing 28.5% of the vote. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved a historic second-place finish with 20.8%, doubling its support from the previous election. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) suffered a dramatic decline, dropping to 16.4%, its worst result since World War II. The Greens, junior coalition partners in the outgoing government, also saw a decline, securing 11.6% of the vote.
The election was triggered by the collapse of Scholz’s three-way coalition with the Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), which fell apart in November 2024 over budget disputes. The FDP, led by Christian Lindner, failed to cross the 5% threshold required to enter parliament, prompting Lindner to resign from active politics. Meanwhile, the far-left Die Linke party surged to 8.8%, while the newly formed Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance narrowly missed the threshold with 4.97%.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz, poised to become Germany’s next chancellor, emphasized the need for swift coalition formation, warning against prolonged negotiations. He criticized the U.S. under President Donald Trump, stating that Europe must achieve greater independence in defense and security. Merz also hinted at potential shifts in NATO’s structure, reflecting concerns over Trump’s commitment to the alliance.
The AfD’s strong performance, particularly in former East German states where it won over 30% of the vote, has raised alarms among mainstream parties, which have ruled out coalition talks with the far-right. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel called the result “historic” and criticized the political establishment for excluding her party from government formation.
The election results suggest a potential two-party coalition between the CDU/CSU and SPD, though Merz may also consider involving the Greens. The outcome underscores a fractured political landscape, with voters expressing dissatisfaction with the previous government’s handling of issues like migration and economic stagnation. Turnout was the highest since reunification in 1990, at 83%, reflecting the high stakes of the election.
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Who is running in the German election and what are the key issues?
German citizens will take to the polls on February 23 for a snap general election.
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