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Germany 2025: Merz towards a Grand Coalition with the SPD after election success

The CDU leader aims to form a government with the Social Democrats by Easter, while the AfD becomes the second largest party with more than 20 per cent of the vote

Friedrich Merz, winner of the 2025 German elections at the head of the CDU, has declared his intention to form a Grand Coalition with the SPD, the Social Democratic party. ‘We are in a position to form a government and that is exactly what we want,’ Merz said, announcing that talks to form a new executive would begin in the coming days. The goal is to reach an agreement by Easter, scheduled for 20 April, to ensure a stable government for Germany.

Merz set three priorities for the future government: foreign and security policy, emphasising the need for Europe to act quickly in response to signs of US disinterest; immigration, calling for cooperation with the SPD; and protecting jobs in German industry. He reiterated the importance of transatlantic relations, warning that a deterioration in US-EU relations would not only be detrimental to Europe, but also to the US.

However, the path to government formation could become more complicated in light of the final results of the vote. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right party, obtained a resounding 20.8%, becoming the second most voted party in the country. This success alarmed the democratic centre parties, as Merz pointed out: ‘The AfD is a warning signal for the democratic parties to find common ground’.

For his part, outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz admitted defeat for the SPD, which recorded the worst election result in its history with 16.41% of the vote. Scholz reiterated his commitment to govern until a new government is formed and reaffirmed Germany’s support for Ukraine. At the same time, Robert Habeck, leader of the Greens, announced his intention to resign, recognising that the party’s result (11.6%) was disappointing.

Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD, celebrated her party’s success, stating that the AfD will continue to grow and overtake the CDU in future elections. Weidel also revealed that she is in contact with US personalities, including Elon Musk and the Trump administration, raising international concerns.

A YouGov poll revealed that 44% of German voters prefer a Grand Coalition between CDU/CSU and SPD, while only 25% would opt for a coalition with the Greens. A government majority consisting of CDU/CSU and SPD would reach 328 seats, narrowly exceeding the necessary threshold of 316.

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