Conservatives win German elections as far-right AfD achieves record support

Germany's conservative party, led by Friedrich Merz, won the recent elections, securing over 28% of the vote. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made significant gains, nearly doubling its support to over 20%, marking a record high. Merz is expected to become the next chancellor and aims to form a coalition government quickly. The Social Democrats, led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, suffered a historic low of around 16%. Other parties have pledged to keep the AfD out of power. The election results reflect growing concerns over immigration and security in Germany. Merz plans to address these issues while also focusing on strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities amid changing US-European relations.