German election 2025: Conservatives surge as Merz paves the way for a new political era

Thomas Edwards | 24th February 2025 | Uncategorised

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Merz’s CDU/CSU secures a pivotal win as Germany braces for complex coalition talks and a new political era.

BERLIN – In a dramatic shake‐up that has rattled Germany’s political establishment, conservative leader Friedrich Merz has emerged as the unlikely victor in the snap national vote, setting the stage for a seismic realignment in the country’s parliamentary dynamics. Voters turned out with record enthusiasm – a turnout hovering between 76 per cent and 82 per cent depending on the ballot type – and the results painted a picture of both continuity and change. Although the Social Democrats (SPD) maintained a solid showing with roughly 25.7 per cent in the party list vote, it was the CDU/CSU bloc, under Merz’s steely leadership, that secured crucial wins in key constituencies. In direct votes the conservative camp captured 28.5 per cent, a figure that proved decisive in translating public support into the mandate required to form the next government. The latest figures reveal a deeply fractured political landscape. Traditional powerhouses now face stiff competition from a diverse field. The ...

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