Germany’s opposition conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party has been projected to win the national election, putting leader Friedrich Merz on track to be the next chancellor, exit polls show.
On Sunday, the first exit polls said Merz’s CDU/CSU alliance had won at least 28. 5 percent of the votes, crushing the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) of the outgoing chancellor, Olaf Scholz, with SPD looking at around 16 percent.
Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) also roughly doubled its score to at least 19. 5 percent and were in second place, the exit polls said.
The election authority in Germany noted that 52% of eligible voters cast their ballots four hours before the high-stakes snap election on Sunday due to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s fallout from the three-party coalition government collapse last November.
“Tonight we will celebrate and from tomorrow we start working,” Merz said in a first reaction to the exit polls in Berlin, surrounded by supporters.
The world is not waiting for us, he said. ”
Merkel’s long-time political foe, Merz, has pledged to stop illegal immigration and improve Germany’s economic policies.
Reporting from Berlin, Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen said that the CDU leader has already delivered a message to Germans, saying it was time for the country to have a “solid government” and show it is “present in Europe”.
She noted that “Merz is known to be much more conservative” than Merkel.
Vaessen said, “He has been working with the far-right AfD on anti-migration policies, and he has a very tough stance against immigration,” adding that his collaboration with the far right has drawn harsh criticism. ”
However, Merz, 69, has repeatedly stated in the past that he does not support the AfD’s anti-immigration rhetoric and that he hopes to stop its rise, which has shocked many in a nation that is still trying to make amends for its enigmatic past.
The AfD will remain in opposition for the time being, basking in the vocal support of important allies of US President Donald Trump. All other parties have vowed to keep it out of power and behind a “firewall” of non-cooperation.
Alice Weidel, the party’s jubilant leader, welcomed the “historic” outcome on Sunday and declared that it was ready to govern with the CDU and CSU.
Meanwhile, Scholz has acknowledged his “election defeat”.
The Social Democratic Party’s incumbent chancellor declared in his opening remarks that the election was a “bitter result.”
It also constitutes an election defeat, and I believe that should be made clear right away. ”
Directing his comments towards Merz, the conservative party leader, Scholz added: “Congratulations on the election result. ”
What next?
Merz will need to form a new coalition government in Europe’s top economy before he can take over from Scholz, who is now the interim chancellor. He has pledged to do this by Easter, April 20.
As a result of the Trump administration’s forced head-spinning change on the global stage and among European allies, particularly in light of the three gruesome years of the Ukraine war, Berlin may become paralyzed for weeks to come.
To build a majority, Merz would be expected to reach out first to the SPD, though without Scholz, who has led Germany’s traditional workers’ party to a historically poor result.
Although the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the CSU, has so far rejected this, he may also approach the Greens, who received at least 12 percent in the exit polls.
Reporting from the German capital Berlin, Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane said that Merz will have to make some “compromises and concessions”.
“Mr Merz is very clearly saying that there need to be quick negotiations, but with which specific parties? Because, obviously, the Social Democrats have been repudiated, their vote dropping to the sort of level which is one of the worst performances they’ve ever had since the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany,” Kane said.
Some of Merz’s supporters in Bavaria have said they do not want to rule with the Greens, he continued.
Source: Aljazeera
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