Olaf Scholz accepts responsibility after Social Democrats' defeat in German elections

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) faced a significant defeat in Germany's federal elections, coming in third with 16-16.5% of the vote. The conservative alliance led by Friedrich Merz won with 28.5-29%, while the far-right AfD secured second place with 19.5-20%. Scholz acknowledged the poor election result and accepted responsibility. He emphasized that the SPD will not cooperate with the far-right AfD in future coalition talks, maintaining a clear stance against extreme right politics. The election outcome may leave Scholz in a caretaker role for an extended period, complicating efforts to address economic challenges. This situation could create a leadership vacuum in Europe amid various ongoing issues.