Conservative opposition wins German election and the far right is 2nd with strongest postwar result – The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
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Germany’s conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz won a lackluster victory in a national election Sunday, while Alternative for Germany doubled its support in the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II, projections showed. Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat for his center-left Social Democrats after what he called “a bitter election result.” (AP video by Fanny Brodersen, production by Kerstin Sopke)
Germany has voted — and the exit polls show opposition leader Friedrich Merz and his Conservative Party on course for a lackluster victory in Sunday’s election. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, scored the best result for a far-right party since World War II.
Friedrich Merz, right, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and Markus Soeder, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), shake hands at the CDU party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)
Friedrich Merz, the candidate of the mainstream conservative Christian Democratic Union party, gestures while addressing supporters at the party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, after the German national election. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Friedrich Merz, with the microphone, the candidate of the mainstream conservative Christian Democratic Union party, shakes hands with Markus Soeder, leader of CSU and Minister-President of Bavaria, at the party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, after the German national election. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz waves after first projections are announced during the election party at the Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Leader of far right AfD Alice Weidel waves a German flag at the AfD party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, after the German national election. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), speaks during the election party at the party’s headquarters in Berlin Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (Soeren Stache/DPA via AP, Pool)
From left, Ines Schwerdtner, co-leader of the Left Party (Die Linke), top candidate Heidi Reichinnek and Jan van Aken, co-leader of the Left Party (Die Linke) react during the party’s election party in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (Carsten Koall/dpa via AP)
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, left, and the top candidate Robert Habeck attend the election party of the Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen) in Berlin Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.(Fabian Sommer/dpa via AP)
People react after first projections are announced during the election party at the Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
People react after first projections are announced during the election party at the Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Sahra Wagenknecht, leader of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) speaks during the party’s election party in Berlin, Germany, Subday, Feb 23, 2025. Slogan reads: ‘Sahra Wagenknecht Party Chairwoman’ (Jens Buettner/dpa via AP)
Christian Lindner, leader of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), delivers a speech after first projections are announced after the national election in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Fe. 23, 2025. (Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa via AP)
A resident casts a vote at a polling station in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, during the German national election. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Volunteers prepare postal votes during the German national election in Munich, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
A young woman in traditional Black Forest costume with a Bollenhut (Bollenhat) stands in the voting booth at a polling station in Gutach, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, during the national election. (Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa via AP)
A German national flag waves on top of the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
View of the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, during the German national election. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
People watch first prjections at a pub in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, after the German national election. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
People watch a tv discussion with Friedrich Merz, leader of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), at a pub in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, after the German national election. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leader of far right AfD Alice Weidel waves a German flag at the AfD party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, after the German national election. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Follow AP’s live coverage of the election in Germany.
BERLIN (AP) — The opposition conservatives led by Friedr
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