Results In After German Election, Showing SPD with Slim Victory

Results are in from the German election held this past Sunday, September 26th. They show a tight race between the two frontrunners, but the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) has edged ahead with 25.7% of the vote. They narrowly beat the center-right alliance of Chancellor Angela Merkel, known as the Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union, which together grabbed just 24.1% of the vote. 

Germany’s top 5 are the environmentalist Greens with 14.8%, the libertarian Free Democratic Party (FDP) with 11.5%, and the far-right Alternative for Germany, which won 10.3%. 

Results like these cause problems for Germany’s political parties because no party gathered enough votes to have a majority in the nation’s parliament. Such a feat has not been done since World War II, but now parties will have to join forces to create a government that does have a majority. The issue is that everyone wants something different.  

It is not unusual for the center-right and center-left to work together. This would be called the “grand coalition.” Regardless, Olaf Scholz, the SPD’s pick to be the next chancellor, has already made clear that he has his eyes on bringing in the Greens and the FDP.  

Scholz addressed his supporters following the election results, saying, “The voters have made it clear. They have said who should form the next government. They strengthened three parties – the SDP, the Greens, and the FDP- and that is the clear mandate from the citizens of this country that these parties should lead the next government.”  

However, Armin Laschet, the chancellor candidate for the conservative group, wants the FDP and the Greens to join his alliance in their own coalition. 

This election is crucial in Germany’s political sphere because Chancellor Angela Merkel is finally planning to step down after 16 years of leading the country. Nevertheless, Merkel will stay Germany’s leader until a new government is created.