Afd's Upset: It Came Second Behind the Center-right

The general elections this Sunday in Germany of 2025 have made it clear in the first "exit polls" that the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) have obtained the highest percentage of votes, with 28.6%. It should be noted that these two parties represent a "center-right" spectrum in Germany.

The right-wing party, Alternative for Germany (AfD) has positioned itself as the second political force with a 20.4%, while the Social Democratic Party (SPD), in third place, has achieved a mere 16.3%.

Despite these results, the process to elect the new chancellor will not begin until a government coalition is formed, which could take several weeks or even months.

The leader of the CDU/CSU, Friedrich Merz, could be the main candidate to succeed Olaf Scholz as chancellor if these projections are confirmed. However, forming a coalition will be a complicated process.

In 2017, negotiations to form a government took almost six months, although if only two parties are involved and their priorities align more, the process could be accelerated.

In the German electoral system, each voter casts two votes: an "Erststimme" for a direct candidate from their constituency and a "Zweitstimme" for a political party. The second vote is crucial to determine the number of seats each party has in the Bundestag.

To enter the Lower House, a party needs at least 5% of the total votes. According to projections, the CDU/CSU might need to form a coalition with other parties to secure a majority in the Bundestag.

Regarding the smaller political forces, the SPD has obtained 16.1%, while the Greens, led by Robert Habeck, position themselves as the fourth force with a 12-13%.

The Left (Die Linke) has obtained 8.5%, and the possible entry of the Liberal Party (FDP) and the left-wing populist alliance Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) remains uncertain, as both parties are near the 4.9% threshold.

The AfD, which has had unbelievable growth compared to previous years' elections, has established itself as the second political force in the country, marking a historic milestone for the party.

Its chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, has celebrated these results, although the possibility of the AfD forming a government seems less likely, as no other party is willing to negotiate with them, leaving Germany's fate to chance.

The refusal by the CDU/CSU coalition to form an alliance with AFD demonstrates the center-right's little willingness to change Germany's future for the better.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU/CSU, has claimed victory and called for quick negotiations to form a coalition, given the severe global crisis situation. The SPD, meanwhile, has congratulated the conservatives on their victory, but uncertainty about the negotiations persists.

The situation is also complicated by the possible entry of the FDP and the BSW into the Bundestag, which could require the formation of a broader coalition.

Regarding voter turnout, a significant increase has been recorded compared to the 2021 elections. By 2:00 PM, turnout had reached 52%, a considerable increase compared to 36.5% in the elections four years ago. The election day passed without major incidents, according to electoral authorities.

Although the CDU/CSU has obtained the highest percentage of votes in Germany's general elections, forming a new government could take several months due to the need to negotiate a coalition.

The significant rise of the AfD as the second political force has been a key factor, although it still has no chance of forming a government on its own. Negotiations between the parties will be crucial to determine who will occupy the chancellor position and how Germany's political future will be configured.