The results of the 2025 German Federal Election have brought significant changes to the political climate of the country. The Union parties, led by Friedrich Merz, emerged victorious, securing 28.6% of the votes. This marked an increase of 4.4 percentage points compared to the previous election, but it still fell short of their goal to cross the 30% threshold. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) faced historical losses, with their performance dropping to 16.4%, down 9.3 percentage points from the last election. This was their worst result ever recorded at the federal level.
With this outcome, the SPD, under the leadership of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is now contemplating the future direction of the party. Scholz addressed the loss head-on, stating, "Das letzte Mal war das Wahlergebnis besser und ich habe dafür auch Verantwortung gehabt." His admission reflects the party’s need to regroup after such significant setbacks. For the first time, not only did the SPD finish below 20%, but they also lost their traditional position as the second strongest party.
The real surprise of the election was the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which doubled its percentage to 20.8%, positioning itself as the second-largest force within the Bundestag. Alice Weidel, the AfD's candidate, took this opportunity to extend her party's hand for cooperation with the Union concerning future governance. "Die Menschen wollen eine blau-schwarze Koalition," she asserted, hinting at the public's desire for collaboration. Yet, Merz, who has consistently rejected any formal agreement with the AfD, responded with caution, emphasizing his commitment to pursuing other coalition possibilities.
Although the Union won decisively, they now face the challenge of forming a government, as achieving a functioning majority will likely require coalition negotiations. Discussions have already tapered toward potential alignments, including the fraught consideration of partnering with the Green Party. This concept of collaboration between historically opposing parties emphasizes Germany's current political shifts.
Another noteworthy development was the marginalization of new parties and previously established ones. The Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) narrowly missed the necessary threshold to gain representation at 4.972%. Sahra Wagenknecht, the leader, expressed disappointment but insisted, "Es ist eine Niederlage, aber es ist nicht das Ende des BSW." The Federal Free Democratic Party (FDP), with only 4.3%, similarly failed to secure any seats, and their leader Christian Lindner announced his exit from active politics, stating, "Nun scheide ich aus der aktiven Politik aus."
The election also saw impressive voter engagement—approximately 82.5% participated, marking the highest turnout since the reunification of Germany. This engagement reflects public concern over the political direction of the country and signifies demands for accountability from elected officials. The vast fluctuation among the parties showcases the electorate's desire for change.
Looking forward, the road to establishing the new government will be fraught with complex negotiations and demands. With Friedrich Merz now tasked with the responsibility of assembling the coalition, the next steps will be closely watched by both supporters and detractors alike. The Bundestag will witness significant shifts on the political spectrum as established parties like the SPD and Greens reassess their strategies and respond to the stark rise of the AfD and the unexpected resurgence of Die Linke, which claims 8.8% of the vote—an increase of 3.9 percentage points.
The results reflect not only the dissatisfaction with incumbents but also underline the changing tides of German politics. The established political parties will have to navigate these changes wisely if they hope to regain the trust of the electorate. With numerous issues awaiting resolution—including climate policies, economic stability, and social welfare—the new government faces pressing challenges to forge consensus and lead effectively.