Far-right AfD becomes second-largest party in Germany elections with over 20% of the vote

In Germany's recent elections, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gained over 20% of the vote, its highest ever. The conservative CDU/CSU, led by Friedrich Merz, won with more than 28%, while the Social Democrats (SPD) recorded their worst result at just over 16%. The AfD's rise is linked to growing concerns about immigration and security. Despite their success, mainstream parties, including the CDU/CSU, have ruled out forming coalitions with the AfD due to fundamental policy differences. Merz aims to form a new government by Easter, but coalition talks are expected to be difficult. The SPD and Greens also faced challenges, with the Greens receiving around 12% and the Free Democrats projected to fall below the threshold needed to retain seats.