German conservatives win national election as far-right party achieves historic support

In Germany's recent national election, opposition leader Friedrich Merz's conservative party is projected to win nearly 29% of the vote. This marks a significant shift, as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) nearly doubled its support to about 20%, the highest for a far-right party since World War II. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats suffered a major defeat, receiving just over 16%, their worst result in postwar history. The election was held earlier than planned due to the collapse of Scholz's coalition, amid widespread discontent over economic stagnation and migration issues. Merz aims to form a coalition government, but it remains unclear if he will need additional partners. AfD's leaders expressed their historic achievement, while Scholz condemned their success, highlighting concerns over the rise of right-wing extremism in Germany.