Berlin:
The conservative CDU/CSU alliance of Germany under the leadership of Friedrich Merz won Sunday’s elections between 28.5 and 29 percent of the votes, according to the first polls from TV exexit.
The extreme right -wing alternative for Germany (AfD) followed in second place with 19.5 to 20 percent, which made the result in the last elections in 2021 rude, based on initial figures from public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.
The increase in anti-immigration AfD was fed by public fears about immigration and safety after a wave of fatal attacks accused of migrants and concerns about the sick economy.
Despite the strong result, the AfD will remain out of power for the time being, because the possible coalition partners will refuse all cooperation with the far right.
If the EXIT surveys are confirmed in the last count, Merz seems to be the next Chancellor of the European Toppunten near the next Chancellor.
But to build a majority in parliament, he should collaborate with one or more parties, possibly the Social Democrats (SPD) of the departing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The SPD was probably their worst result in the history of the post -war democracy of Germany, with between 16 and 16.5 percent.
The Greens, another possible partner for the CDU/CSU, had 12 to 13.5 percent of the votes according to the exit surveys.
But the exact opportunities can depend on the end result for smaller parties. The extreme left-wing Linke seemed to have cleaned up the five percent obstacle to enter the Bundestag, by 8.5 to nine percent.
The Pro-Business Free Democrats (FDP), which until recently were in the government, were exactly around the five percent threshold, just like another extreme left party, newcomer the BSW.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)