Far-right party secures historic second place in German national election

In a historic shift, the far-right party Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) has secured about 20% of the vote, coming in second in Germany's national election. This marks the first time since World War II that a far-right party has achieved such a position. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, is projected to win with around 30% of the vote. Merz will need to form a coalition but is unlikely to partner with the AfD due to a longstanding political agreement in Germany against collaborating with far-right parties. Merz's recent vote alongside the AfD on a migration bill has raised concerns about the integrity of Germany's political "firewall" against the far right. Despite this, he has publicly distanced himself from the AfD, labeling it as his party's main opponent.