In Germany’s national election on Sunday, opposition leader Friedrich Merz claimed victory after exit polls showed his bloc in the lead. Alternative for Germany (AfD) is on track to make its strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat in the election after exit polls showed his center-left Social Democrats on track to come in third place.
German voters cast their ballots in Sunday’s election, with Friedrich Merz claiming victory. Exit polls also indicate that Alternative for Germany (AfD) is heading for the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II. The election came as Germany and the rest of Europe grapple with the new Trump administration, the Russia-Ukraine war, and security across the continent.
Scholz has conceded defeat in the election, calling it a bitter result for his center-left Social Democrats and recognizing it as an election defeat. Exit polls show that Merz’s conservatives are leading in the election, while AfD is making significant gains. ARD and ZDF public television’s exit polls indicate Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats are expected to have their worst post-war result in a national parliamentary election and are likely to be in third place. The election was dominated by concerns about Europe’s biggest economy’s stagnation, pressure to curb migration, and growing uncertainty over Ukraine and Europe’s alliance with the United States.
Merz claimed victory after exit polls showed his bloc in the lead, stating that he is aware of the dimension of the task ahead and emphasizing that it will not be easy. He aims to put together a governing coalition as quickly as possible. The exit polls show Merz leading, with AfD making significant gains. Merz is the current opposition leader and front-runner in the election campaign, leading his center-right Union bloc, which is expected to have the best chance of forming a new government. Merz is also facing environmentalist Greens candidate Robert Habeck and far-right leader Alice Weidel in the race for chancellor.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/conservative-candidate-pulls-ahead-german-election-according-early-exit-polls
