Olaf Scholz has broken his silence on his party’s election defeat as the Social Democratic Party (SPD) polls at a historic low.
SDP, the current leading party, are on track for their worst result ever since World War Two, polling at 16 per cent.
This puts them behind the Christian Democrats and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) at 29 per cent and Alternative for Germany at 19.5 per cent
Giving his first remarks following the exit poll, Scholz says it is a moment “in which we have to acknowledge we have lost the election”.
He said in the last election, the party had a “better” result that he was “responsible” for, adding that this result “is worse, and I am responsible for that too”.
“This is a bitter election result for the Social Democratic Party,” the incumbent chancellor has said in Berlin.
“It is also an election defeat, and I think that needs to be made clear at the outset.”
Speaking about AfD, Scholz said: “The fact they got such a good election result is something we cannot accept and I will never accept.”
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Trump praises exit poll as ‘great day for Germany’
Donald Trump
REUTERS
US President Donald Trump has praised the result of the exit polls in Germany, saying it’s “a great day” for the country as well as the United States.
“Much like the USA, the people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration, that has prevailed for so many years,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“This is a great day for Germany, and for the United States of America under the leadership of a gentleman named Donald J. Trump. Congratulations to all — many more victories to follow!!!”
Exit poll predicts CDU to fall short of majority as AfD makes major gains
The exit poll in Germany has just been published, bringing an election campaign driven by the nation’s stumbling economy and persistent deliberation on migration close to an end.
The poll predicts that Christian Democrats and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) will fall short of a majority, whilst Alternative for Germany makes major gains.
Broadcaster ARD indicates percentages of votes are as follows.
CDU/CSU 29 per cent
AfD 19.5 per cent
SPD 16 per cent
Greens 13.5 per cent
The Left 8.5 per cent
FDP 4.9 per cent
BSW 4.7 per cent
Based on these figures, the CDU’s Friedrich Merz will be looking to form Germany’s next government.
Olaf Scholz’ SDP, the current leading party, are on track for their worst result ever since World War Two.
Meanwhile, the AfD party appear to be close to cinching their best-ever result, surging ahead of their last result of 10 per cent at the previous election in 2021.
It has been reported that 52 per cent of the population turned up to vote, the highest in the nation since 1990.
AfD will be ‘excluded’ from ‘clumsy coalition’, lawyer says
Andrew Hummell gives his prediction on which parties in Germany will form a coalition.
The lawyer said that whilst it is a strong result for Altenerative for Germany, they will likely be “excluded” in a “clumsy coalition”.
He told Nana Akua: “It’s a strong result for the Social Democratic Party and the AfD, the sort of insurgent populist party is doing about what was expected, 20 per cent, which is considerable, that that will make them the second greatest power in Germany.
“However, the result is likely to be some kind of clumsy coalition that excludes the AfD.”
AfD says ‘we can really bring about change’
Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel
Reuters
AfD Party co-chairman Tino Chrupalla says he is “very proud of our party”, following an exit poll which puts the AfD in second place.
“We were united, our campaign was targeted and we were disciplined,” he says, standing alongside co-chairwoman Alice Weidel.
“We can really bring about a epochal change,” he says, adding “we are always open to negotiations”.
“We have received the confidence of the voters and that should be something everybody else accepts as well,” he adds.
CDU’s Merz declares ‘we have won this election’
Friedrich Merz
Reuters
Friedrich Merz, the head of the Christian Democrats (CDU), is currently addressing supporters in Berlin following the release of the exit poll.
“We have won this election,” he declares, adding that a coalition needs to be formed swiftly.
He said: “”What I have to say to our voters is thank you for placing your trust in us and in me personally, given I know what that means in terms of responsibility.”
“And I know the scale of the work ahead of us, it is with the greatest respect that I will take that on.”
“The outside world is not going to wait for us,” he said, stressing that necessity the the coalition come together quickly.
“Now we’re going to speak to each other and as soon as possible, we need to get a viable government together in Germany, a government capable of working based on the majority.”
SPD official says results mark ‘bitter evening’
Matthias Miersch, general secretary of the ruling SPD, says the results mark a “historic defeat” for the party.
“This is a very bitter evening,” Miersch said.
SDP, the current leading party, are on track for their worst result ever since World War Two, with Miersch describing the vote as a “historic defeat”.
CDU official says Merz will be Germany’s next chancellor
Conservative leader Friedrich Merz
REUTERS
Carsten Linnemann, the conservative party’s general secretary, has made the prediction as early exit polls showed the CDU leading.
“The traffic light coalition has finally been voted out,” Linneman said.
“The new chancellor will be Friedrich Merz.”
AfD wave flags at Party HQ after exit poll
AfD celebration
Reuters
Alternative for Germany (AfD) have waved flags at their HQ in celebration of exit polls results.
The party has made major gains, with predictions indicating that AfD will gain 19.5 per cent of the vote.
Alice Weidel, leader of the party said that it had become “the second strongest force” and was now “firmly anchored” in the German mainstream.
Polls have closed in Germany
Polls have closed
Reuters
Polls have closed across Germany to determine the new Bundestag.
Millions of German voters have been casting their ballots following an election race defined by concerns about immigration and a falling economy.
It has been reported that 52 per cent of the population turned up to vote, the highest in the nation since 1990.
Voting almost complete across country as voters make feelings clear over economy and migration
Voting is almost complete to determine the new Bundestag in Germany, signaling the end to the election campaign driven by the nation’s stumbling economy and persistent deliberation on migration.
Polls expect conservative leader Friedrich Merz to become their next Chancellor as Europe and America closely monitor the vote.
He has insisted that he would make no deal with the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) – a party which has been bolstered by the likes of Elon Musk and US Vice President JD Vance.
Consequently, Merz’s Christian Democrats will be forced to build an alliance with another party, which is expected to be Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats.
The AfD is believed to become the second largest political party – and is even expected to overtake Scholz’s left party – in what is expected to be its most successful election result to date.
A fifth (20 per cent) of the German electorate remains undecided ahead of the election, according to national polls, while around 60 million Germans are eligible to vote.
“I’m completely disappointed in politics, so maybe an alternative would be better,” retired Berlin bookkeeper Ludmila Ballhorn told Reuters, citing the soaring cost-of-living crisis.
The polls will close at 6pm (5pm UK time) as an early indication of the outcome likely to be clear throughout the evening.
Frontrunner Merz says ‘the left is over’
Friedrich Merz
Reuters
Frontrunner Friedrich Merz, a conservative leader, has said that there is “no longer a left-wing majority in Germany”.
The CDU-CSU candidate said in his closing remarks during a campaign speech yesterday: “The left is over. There is no longer a left-wing majority and no more left-wing politics in Germany.
“It’s over. It’s no longer possible.”
The SPD party has hit out at remarks made by Merz, with general secretary Matthias Miersch has now responded by saying: “That’s how a mini-Trump speaks”, according to Der Spiegel.
Man draws knife at polling station
A 33-year-old man has reportedly drawn a knife at a polling station in western Germany.
The man, described as “mentally disturbed” by local press, made “inflammatory comments” to the election committee after he voted in Krefeld.
He reportedly accused the election workers of vote manipulation.
Local police said that he threatened an unnamed passerby with a knife whilst leaving, though he did not use it.
As he left the polling station, he also threatened an unnamed passerby, pulling out a knife but not using it.
Criminal charges are expected to follow.
Final polls before Germans head to the polls points to AfD taking fifth of votes – just second to the mainstream CDU
The final polls leading up to today’s snap election signals that the AfD will receive an unprecedented amount of support.
It is expected that the CDC/CSU will receive the most points, leading over the populist party by nine points.
Meanwhile, governing party SPD have dropped over 12 points since the last election and are trailing behind the far right in third place.
German politicians’ strategy to exclude AfD from future coalitions fails to reflect voters’ desire for ‘tougher stance of migration’, journalist suggests
A coalition between the German parties would fail to reflect a “tougher stance on migration” if politicians succeed in blocking the AfD from governance.
Germany’s other parties will likely block the populist group from entering into a formal coalition, with a Brandmauer strategy, known as a firewall in English, to keep the AfD at bay.
Speaking on GB News, Hyde said that any such agreement between the other parties will ultimately fail to create a coalition “that reflects this demand on a tougher stance on migration”.
The AfD is projected to win a fifth of the national vote as the election campaign was characterised by debates on the economy and the growing issue of migration.
PICTURED: Top party leaders head to the polls
Merz and Scholz both cast their ballots this morning
REUTERS
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has cast his ballot in Potsdam with his wife Britta Ernst.
Meanwhile, conservative leader – and election frontrunner – Friedrich Merz cast his vote at a local station in Arnsberg this morning.
‘We got our own problems!’ Donald Trump wishes Germany ‘luck’ ahead election day
Donald Trump said that he “wishes [Germany] luck” ahead of the polls opening this morning as he spoke to reporters in the Oval Office.
When asked on his thoughts on the European national election, he offered his well wishes and then laughed off the question, saying: “We got our own problems!”
As the President threatens European countries with tariffs and excludes them over peace negotiations with Moscow over the war in Ukraine, the winner of Germany’s election will become a key player on the world stage.
AfD handed major poll boost after DOUBLING support but faces ‘firewall’ as ALL other parties unite to block path to power
AfD co-leader Alice WeidelREUTERS
Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been handed a major poll boost in YouGov’s last mega-survey ahead of Sunday’s Bundestag election.
The populist party cemented its expected second-place finish, with 20 per cent of the vote and 145 seats.
AfD support has doubled since the last federal poll in 2021 when the populist party returned 83 MPs with 10.4 per cent of the vote.
It is also substantially up compared to Alice Weidel’s third-place showing, which saw 94 AfD MPs enter the Bundestag in 2017.
Polls open as Germans cast their vote in much-anticipated national election
Polls will close at 6pm UK time
REUTERS
The polls have opened in Germany for almost 60 million people to cast their vote following an intense election campaign across Merz’s Christian Democrats, Scholz’s Social Democrats and the AfD.
Polls will close at 6pm UK time.