The Latest: Merz wins Germany's election while AfD makes historic gains
German voters cast their ballots in Sunday’s election, with opposition leader Friedrich Merz claiming victory and Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceding defeat. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is heading for the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II.
Conservatives are poised to win the German election, with Musk-backed AfD in second
The vote comes at a pivotal time for Europe, which faces an increasingly assertive Trump administration.
'We have won the election': Germany's conservative leaders celebrate as far-right projected to take second place
Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now on course to win 20.5% of the vote, according to latest projections - but there is no way Friedrich Merz will work with it because of a long-standing political taboo against working with the far right, known as a Brandmauer - a firewall.
Germany's conservatives set to win election as far-right AfD leaps to second place, 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.
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Exit polls show Merz in the lead while AfD makes historic gains in Germany election
Outgoing German chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded the election and decried the historic gains of the far-right conservative party, AfD. Early exit polls show AfD is headed for second place, while opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s conservatives are in the lead and Scholz’s party fell to third.
German conservatives win election but far-right AfD surges, exit polls show
Germany's opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday, putting leader Friedrich Merz on track to be the next chancellor while the far-right Alternative for Germany came in second, its best ever result, projections showed.
Leader of Germany's far-right AfD hails 'historic' election result
Leader of Germany's far-right AfD says the party has'achieved a historic result' in the country's election:: Berlin, Germany:::: Alice Weidel, AfD Party co-chair"We have achieved a historic result. We have never been stronger in the federal government.
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.
Trump Hails 'Great Day for Germany' After Conservatives Win Election
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed Sunday as a "great day for Germany" after an election in which the centre-right opposition won first place followed by the far-right AfD with its strongest result ever.
Conservatives heading to victory in German election; far right surges
The Christian Democratic Union has won a plurality in the Bundestag, preliminary exit polls suggested Sunday, while the far-right AfD has come in second.
Germany election: exit polls say conservatives head for victory
Friedrich Merz is set to become Germany's next chancellor, as exit polls show his centre-right grouping has won the general election. The far-right AfD appears to have come second. See more episodes Programme website Copyright 2025 BBC.
Merz leads in Germany’s election while AfD makes historic gains | AP Explains
Germany has voted — and the exit polls show opposition leader Friedrich Merz and his Conservative Party on course for a ...
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 ...
Live Updates: Germany Votes in High-Stakes Election
Voting will soon close in national elections. Polls show the hard-right AfD party is likely to have its best showing ever.
Germany's election in graphics
Germany's election on Sunday delivered a win to the conservative opposition as well as a historic surge in support for the ...
Discontented Germany votes in an election with economy, migration and far-right strength in focus
The center-right opposition is favored to win, while polls point to the strongest result for a far-right party since World ...
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Germany votes with Merz on course to be next chancellor and far right set to surge
Millions of Germans are voting in snap elections. The centre-right CDU is predicted to win the biggest share of votes, putting its leader Friedrich Merz in pole position to be next chancellor. Follow ...
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 ...