The German federal election held on February 23, 2025, has led to significant shifts in the nation's political landscape.

• CDU/CSU: Led by Friedrich Merz, the conservative alliance secured 28.5% of the vote, positioning itself as the leading party.
• Alternative for Germany (AfD): The far-right party achieved a historic high with 20.8%, doubling its previous performance and emerging as the second-largest party.
• Social Democratic Party (SPD): Under Olaf Scholz, the SPD faced a significant decline, obtaining 16.4% of the vote, marking its worst result in post-war history.
• The Greens: The environmentalist party received 11.6%, reflecting a slight decrease from prior elections.
• The Left (Die Linke): Garnered 8.8%, surpassing the 5% threshold to maintain parliamentary representation.
• Free Democratic Party (FDP): Fell short of the 5% threshold, securing only 4.3%, resulting in the loss of its parliamentary seats.

Friedrich Merz is poised to become the next Chancellor. However, forming a stable government requires coalition-building, as the CDU/CSU lacks an absolute majority. Potential coalition partners include the SPD and possibly The Greens, though negotiations are expected to be complex.

The AfD's surge, particularly in former East German states, underscores growing public discontent over issues like immigration and economic policy. Despite their electoral gains, mainstream parties have ruled out collaborating with the AfD.

Voter turnout was notably high at 82.5%, the highest since German reunification, indicating robust public engagement in this pivotal election.

As coalition discussions commence, Germany faces a period of political negotiation that will shape its future direction on both domestic and international fronts.