Friedrich Merz and the centre-right Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union (CSU) alliance have secured a decisive victory in the German election, garnering 208 seats. The far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), trails behind with 151 seats, while incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD lags in third with 120 seats.
Merz’s strong support for Ukraine’s defence and Europe has been a significant factor in his victory. World leaders have begun to congratulate Merz on his win. US President Donald Trump hailed the election as a “great day for Germany,” stating that the German people have rejected the “no common sense agenda” on energy and immigration.
Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated Merz, expressing his eagerness to work with the upcoming government to strengthen the partnership between their countries. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte congratulated Merz on the apparent CDU/CSU victory, emphasizing the importance of Europe stepping up its defence spending.
Notably, US tech billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk had urged Germans to vote for AfD. Despite this, Merz’s victory has been welcomed by several world leaders, including Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who have extended their congratulations to Merz.
Premier League