According to the voting results, CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who heads the government, won with a score of 28.6%, reports Politeka.net.
As DW notes, his victory was weaker than expected, and analysts suggest this is due to the liberal migration policies left behind by Angela Merkel. However, by April, Merz hopes to move into the Federal Chancellor's offices in Berlin. Experts say it will be challenging for him to form a government due to the participation of the "Greens".
The current Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged his defeat, achieving a historic low of 16.4%. Nevertheless, his party will remain in power, as without the support of the SPD, Merz's new coalition will not be feasible.
Scholz announced his resignation as Chancellor but will continue to fulfill his duties until the formation of the new government is completed. Following his departure, the Social Democrats face the challenge of selecting a new leader, with Boris Pistorius mentioned as a potential candidate, according to Politeka.
Despite losing support, the "Alternative for Germany" celebrates its triumph, particularly due to a significant strengthening of its position in the Bundestag. Their leader Alice Weidel has already stated that she does not rule out the possibility of coming in first in the next elections.
Equally significant was the result for the Left Party, which unexpectedly gained 8.8% after low polling positions. Its success is attributed to support from the youth and the resonance of the CDU's migration initiative.
Merz's victory opens new opportunities for Germany's foreign policy. Merz stated Europe is ready to achieve independence from the USA, but this requires a stable coalition, a challenging task for now. Additionally, during his post-election speech, Merz emphasized the need to continue supporting Kyiv, stressing that "Ukraine cannot be left alone".
Source: dw.