Bundestag elections: Merz’s CDU/CSU leads, Scholz’s party shows worst result in its history

Friedrich Merz. Photo: reuters.com

Voting in the early parliamentary elections to the Bundestag has ended in Germany. According to preliminary results, the conservative bloc consisting of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) led by Friedrich Merz is in the lead, gaining 29% of the votes. This is evidenced by the exit polls.

Merz himself has already declared the victory of his bloc.

“We will celebrate tonight, and from tomorrow we will start working,” Merz told his supporters in Berlin.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is running for the CDU/CSU: according to exit polls, 20% of voters voted for the far-right party. This is the best result in the history of AfD, and following the elections, Alice Weidel’s party can double the number of its deputies in the Bundestag.

The Social Democrats led by Olaf Scholz came in third, showing, in turn, the worst result in their history: they are gaining 16.5% of the votes. Scholz admitted defeat in the elections, calling their results bitter for the SPD.

About 12% voted for the Greens, and about 9% for the Left Party.

The remaining parties were unable to overcome the 5% threshold and will not be represented in the Bundestag.

Let us recall that early elections to the Bundestag are taking place in Germany today, February 23. Polling stations opened at 8:00 local time. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has already admitted his defeat and congratulated the leader of the Christian Democratic Party Friedrich Merz on his victory in the elections.

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