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.
Merz claims win for German conservatives as far right surges to strongest postwar election result
Germany’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is set to return to power with the far-right Alternative for Germany as second-largest party, exit polls show, after snap elections dominated by concerns over immigration,
Germany’s Merz claims victory for his conservatives as exit polls put far right on strong showing
The center-right opposition is favored to win, while polls point to the strongest result for a far-right party since World War II
German conservatives lead election with far-right AfD in second place, exit polls show
Alternative for Germany, a far-right political party under surveillance by intelligence services for suspected extremism, made huge gains in the German general election Sunday, with the center-right Christian Democratic Union likely to lead coalition talks to form the next government.
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.
LIVE
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.
'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.
German Election 2025 Live: Far-right AfD second in polls as voters
The far-right AfD likely will score its best ever result as Europe's ailing economic powerhouse lurches rightwards. The conservative CDU/CSU bloc is set to win, but will be unlikely to secure a majority.
Conservative Friedrich Merz declared snap German election winner
Millions of Germans are deciding the next chancellor in snap elections Sunday with the center-right Christian Democratic Union party widely projected to win and its candidate Friedrich Merz installed as the top official.
German elections: CDU’s Merz looks set to be next chancellor as far-right AfD surges
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 live updates.
Germany’s far-right AfD still faces limits, despite election success
The success of the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is a sign of the times. Across Europe, far-right parties once on the fringe have gone mainstream.
Elon Musk’s star power fails to help far-right AfD win German election
In spite of the Tesla CEO's best efforts, the AfD performed no better than had been expected when snap elections were called.
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 winner pledges ‘independence from US’
Germany’s Friedrich Merz promised to “achieve independence” from the US after his centre-right bloc won federal elections, ...
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 ...
The German Elections Could Transform the EU
If the far-right AfD performs well in Germany's national elections, it could have major implications for the EU.
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 ...