German election sees record voter turnout and shifts in party support

Voter turnout in the recent German election reached a record 83.5%, the highest since 1990. The election was called after the coalition government of the Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats collapsed in late 2024. The conservative Christian Democratic Union, led by Friedrich Merz, won the most votes, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany. The Social Democrats, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, experienced significant losses. The CDU/CSU gained 208 seats but will need a coalition to secure a majority in the Bundestag. Voter shifts were notable, with younger voters favoring extreme parties and men leaning more conservative than women.