Germany has concluded its federal election, with initial results revealing a notable shift in the country’s political landscape. The Social Democratic Party of Germany, led by Olaf Scholz, has emerged as the largest group in the Bundestag, securing 206 seats and garnering around 25.7% of the vote. This comes as a significant victory for the SPD, who narrowly outpaced the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Socialist Union (CSU) alliance, which received 196 seats and 24.1% of the vote. The Greens secured third place with 118 seats and 14.8% of the vote, demonstrating a strong showing amid their focus on climate policy. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Alternative for Germany (AfD) received 92 and 103 seats, respectively, while The Left party managed to retain its presence in the Bundestag with 39 seats. Negotiations are expected to commence in order for a coalition government to be formed. The new Bundestag will convene on October 7, with the goal of finalizing a ruling coalition and electing Scholz as chancellor, breaking the 16-year tenure of Angela Merkel.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/briefing/germany-election-west-bank.html