[DW] Early projections say Germany's conservative bloc has secured some 29% of the votes, emerging as the largest party ahead of the far-right AfD with around 19.5%. Follow DW for live updates.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Polls opened at 8 a.m. (0700 UTC) and closed at 6 p.m.
- Exit polls put CDU/CSU at 29%, the right-wing populist AfD at around 19.5%, and Chancellor Scholz's SPD at 16%
- The AfD is shunned by other parties and expected to be left out of government
- The snap election was triggered by the collapse of a three-way coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz' center-left SPD
- CDU candidate Friedrich Merz could become the next chancellor and choose to form a coalition with the SPD and/or the environmentalist Greens
Here are the latest developments on Germany's parliamentary election on Sunday, February 23, 2025, along with the essential background and explainers.
| Update courtesy of Fred at 2:30 p.m. ET |
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