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Editorial: El País

Europa espera al canciller Merz
Feb. 24, 2025

  • Friedrich Merz, CDU candidate, has been declared the winner of this Sunday's German elections with around 29% of the votes.
  • Merz is expected to lead a governing coalition over the next four years, a period in which Germany will face major decisions about its future and that of the EU.
  • The most probable coalition option is with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), although the latter party has significantly declined following these elections.
  • Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right party, has garnered 20% of the votes and will be the main opposition force.
  • Voter turnout for these elections has been high, with 84%, the highest since reunification.
  • Immigration has been a focal issue in this election, driven by several recent incidents.
  • The Social Democratic Party received the worst result in its history with 16% of the votes.

Conclusion: These election outcomes demonstrate a significant swing to the right in the German political landscape, with a stronger far-right presence and a much-weakened SPD. The upcoming coalition government will need to confront emerging issues such as immigration and economic stagnation.