Germans went to the polls on Sunday in a crucial election, with conservatives as strong favorites after a campaign shaken by an increase in the extreme right and the dramatic return of US President Donald Trump.
The electoral colleges opened at 8 am, with over 59 million Germans eligible to vote. The first survey-based estimates are expected after the polls close at 6 pm. As of 2 pm, participation was at 52%, announced Ruth Brand, the president of the Central Electoral Commission, who also assured that there had been no remarkable incidents. This percentage excludes mail-in votes.
After casting his vote in Berlin, 62-year-old urbanist Daniel Hofmann said it was his “civic duty” to vote, adding that “we are currently going through very uncertain moments.” Among his concerns are “European security” amid the war in Ukraine and the economy. He emphasized the need for “a change, a transformation.”
The favorite to win, Friedrich Merz, has promised a hard turn to the right if elected, aiming to recover voters from the anti-immigration ultra-right party Alternative for Germany (AFD). The AFD aspires to a record result after a series of fatal attacks attributed to asylum applicants.
If Merz replaces Social Democratic Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz, as widely predicted, he has promised a “strong voice” in Europe amidst chaos and disruption. The high-risk vote in the EU’s largest economy occurs amid a tectonic shift in US-Europe relations caused by Trump’s direct approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
Concerns Across Europe
Throughout Europe, NATO allies are concerned about the future of the Alliance, particularly in Germany, which prospered under the US-led security umbrella. However, Merz has been negotiating a potential coalition government, which could mean more political paralysis in Berlin during these difficult times.
In a surprising turn, the AFD has enjoyed enthusiastic support from Trump, with billionaire Elon Musk promoting it as the only party capable of “saving Germany.” Trump, when asked about the elections, said, “I wish you luck, we have our own problems.”
Merz, in his final campaign act, expressed strong confidence, telling supporters that “we will win the elections and then the nightmare of this government will end.” He promised to strengthen border controls and reactivate the weakened German economy.
Voter Concerns
While voting in Frankfurt, coach Mario Stallman, holding his two-week-old baby, said he wanted the next government to “invest more in education” and reduce radicalism on the right. Janine Wirmer, a 32-year-old voter and project director, emphasized the need for weather protection and support for Ukraine, especially given Trump’s recent behavior.
Another voter, a 49-year-old engineer who only identified himself as Christian, praised AFD leader Alice Weidel as a “hard woman” who is adopting AFD programs. Merz has argued that the next government must address the concerns of the AFD directly, warning that otherwise the extreme right could win next time.
High Stakes
According to political analyst Michael Blening, “what is at stake could not be higher.” The main German parties have failed to convince voters to reject the extreme right, and these elections could be their last chance to change course. Democratic forces must find solutions to economic stagnation, immigration challenges, and voter discontent.
Germany’s political crisis began when Scholz’s coalition collapsed on November 6, the day Trump was re-elected. The SPD, Greens, and FDP Liberal Party had been discussing resource shortages, and Scholz’s low popularity indices suggest he paid the price for political stagnation and poor economic performance amid the war in Ukraine.
The frustration with leadership has promoted the rise of the AFD, which is on its way to achieving its best historical result after a series of high-profile attacks in which the suspects were asylum seekers. While Merz has promised to close German borders and lock up those waiting for deportation, the AFD has argued that Germans “will vote for the original.”