Early projections on Sunday evening placed the CDU and its Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) allies first on 29 per cent and likely to form a grand coalition with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD).
Sunday’s biggest winner was the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). It almost doubled its support to capture 19 per cent, according to early projections. This would make it the largest opposition party in the new Bundestag parliament, as no other party is willing to work with them.
Over at the SPD’s base, chastened chancellor Scholz described as bitter its nine point slide in support.
Even before the final results, due early on Monday morning, AfD lead candidate Alice Weidel said her Bundestag party had doubled in size with over 140 MPs, up from 85.
“We can do lot with that,” said Weidel, adding her hand was “outstretched” to govern with the CDU.
Even after polls closed on Sunday evening, the election rollercoaster continued for two smaller parties.
The liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), whose departure from power last November prompted the early election, was just below the five per cent parliamentary hurdle in early results on 4.9 per cent.
A final winner of the evening was the hard left Linke, which bounced back from the brink of political oblivion to secure eight per cent, up nearly four points despite mass defections last year.
Less happy was the Linke’s breakaway left-conservative alliance of Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW). According early projections, it has failed to enter parliament after polling just 4.8 per cent.
Germany’s Green lead candidate Robert Habeck, praised his party for emerging relatively unscathed from the traffic light Coalition, down two points to 13 per cent. He his party was “ready for talks but the mandate for Government is with Friedrich Merz”." IrishTimes
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