Berlin, Germany – In a historic turnout, German voters participated in an early federal election on February 23, marking the highest voter turnout since the country’s unification in 1990.

The results of the election show the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister Christian Social Union (CSU) emerging as the winners, led by chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz. They secured the first place, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) coming in second.

The election saw significant shifts in voter affiliations, with the AfD nearly doubling its votes, while the Social Democrats (SPD) recorded their worst result in a federal election. The neo-liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) also suffered losses, failing to meet the 5% threshold to enter the Bundestag.

Germany’s parliamentary system consists of 630 seats in the Bundestag, with parties needing at least 5% of votes or winning candidates in three electoral districts to secure representation. The CDU/CSU, despite winning the largest share of votes, will need to form a coalition government to gain the majority of 316 seats.

The election results reflected a strong regional divide, with the AfD emerging as the leading force in eastern Germany. The party’s support varied across regions, with some areas showing over 30% of votes going to the AfD, particularly in states like Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.

Voter demographics also played a significant role in shaping the election results, with young people leaning towards the far-right AfD and the Left Party, while older voters favored parties like the SPD and CDU. Additionally, gender and education level influenced voting patterns, with men leaning more towards conservative parties and less educated voters supporting parties like the AfD.

Overall, the election highlighted the shifting political landscape in Germany, with the need for coalition governments and the emergence of regional differences in voting patterns.