Germany's conservatives celebrate, but far-right enjoy record result

German elections this week have once again highlighted that Europe’s political landscape is suffering a fundamental transformation.

In Sunday's national elections, Alternative for Germany surged to the best showing by a far-right party since the World War and became the strongest political force in parts of the country.

?How do elections work?

Some 59 million Germans can vote in snap elections to decide who will govern the eurozone’s largest economy. A sluggish economy, immigration and the Ukraine war top the poll agenda. At the heart of the election is the economy which has been experiencing a downturn.

How are the Bundestag seats allocated?

Germany's election system is complex. With each voter casting two votes: one for a constituency candidate and another for a political party.

?The 630 seats in the Bundestag are allocated based on the proportion of second votes received by each party.

?The party with the most votes will nominate a candidate for a chancellor, who must secure an absolute majority in the Bundestag to be sworn in as the country’s new leader.

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Who is the top Candidate?

?Friedrich Merz (CDU): - The frontrunner

Friedrich Merz a pro-business social conservative Merz has long been a rival to former chancellor Angela Merkel and is running under the slogan “A Germany we can be proud again”

His key policies focus on cutting taxes, slashing welfare spending 50 billion and implementing permanent border control with immigration.

He advocates stronger European leadership and support for Ukraine, refusing to rule out NATO membership?

Merz also supports boosting Germany's defence military spending at least 2% of GDP for military purposes and introducing military compulsorily.

Olaf Scholz (SPD)- The incumbent

Olaf Scholz the current chancellor and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) his government has struggled due to the economic effects of Russia's war on Ukraine and disputes over Germany's debt.

Despite internal opposition, Scholz has pledged to continue military aid for Ukraine but faced criticism for being provided with slow support.

His economic agenda includes minimum wages to 15 per hour lower income tax for most households and creating a 100 billion investment fund to boost public infrastructure and green energy.

Alice Weidel (AFD)

?Alice Weidel leader of far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD). Known for her hard-line stance on immigration, Weidel supports mass deportations under “remigration” policies.

The elimination of EU-wide asylum rules. She has advocated for lower taxes, reduction in bureaucracy and strict German constitution debt break not outlined clear plans.

Alice Weidel has gained popularity among voters in social media and has received endorsement from billionaire Elon Musk but her party remain isolated from mainstream political coalitions??

German Federal Election Result

According to the provisional result from the Federal Returning Officer. German conservatives Under Friedrich Merz won Sunday’s snap election with 28.5%

The far-right Alternative for Germany was in second place with 20.8% ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz Social Democrats in third with 16.4%.

The Greens were fourth with 11.6% while the Free Democrats with 4.3% and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance with 4.97% missed the 5% threshold for getting seats in parliament.

?Who is Friedrich Merz's next German Chancellor?

The 69-year-old CDU leader is a multi-millionaire lawyer who has been in and out of politics for decades. He was first elected to the European parliament in 1989 and by 2000 had become chairman of the CDU’s parliament alliance.

Realising the contemporary geo-political situation across the globe and how Europe is being targeted by the US, CDU/CSU’s Merz said “After Donald Trump’s statement last week, it is clear.

This American government doesn’t care for Europe. We need to see whether we don’t need to become more quickly independent in Europe in terms of our defence capabilities

.Europe’s leaders fall into line with Trump’s new world order A meeting of old forces carries repeats of earlier times