Germany votes as Conservatives lead, AfD gains ground
3 Min Read
At an AfD rally in Berlin, party supporter Julian Adrat expressed optimism about the election, saying, "I'm very confident and, no matter how it turns out, we still have room for improvement."
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The sun sets behind the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, one day ahead of the German election (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
AFP on Saturday reported that German politicians made a final push for votes ahead of Sunday's crucial elections, where the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, led by Friedrich Merz, is expected to win despite the rapid rise of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The election comes amid political and economic uncertainty in Europe's largest economy, as US President Donald Trump has disrupted the Western stance on the Ukraine war by seeking closer ties with Russia.
Trump's threats of a trade war have further raised concerns about Germany's struggling economy, which has been in recession for the past two years.
Read more: Germany's faces longest post-war recession, report finds
Speaking to a crowd in Munich, Friedrich Merz expressed confidence in a conservative victory, declaring, "Tomorrow we will win the elections and then the nightmare of this government will be over." He vowed to be a "strong voice" in Europe during turbulent times.
Far-Right Surge
The election campaign has been heavily influenced by security concerns and social polarization following a series of violent attacks, including Friday's stabbing at Berlin's Holocaust Memorial, allegedly motivated by anti-Semitism.
These incidents have fueled public anger over immigration and security policies, boosting the AfD's popularity to 20% in the polls, placing it in second place behind the conservatives.
The AfD has received support from Trump's inner circle, including tech billionaire Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance.
At an AfD rally in Berlin, party supporter Julian Adrat expressed optimism about the election, saying, "I'm very confident and, no matter how it turns out, we still have room for improvement."
Read more: Scholz criticizes opposition for collaboration with AfD
Collapse of Scholz's Coalition
The election is being held six months ahead of schedule following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition with the Greens and pro-business FDP in November. Scholz's Social Democrats are polling at around 15%, trailing behind both the conservatives and the AfD.
Merz has ruled out a coalition with the AfD but is expected to seek alliances with the Social Democrats or the Greens to form a government. He declared confidently, "The left is over... There is no left majority and no left politics anymore in Germany."
He pledged to tighten immigration, cut welfare benefits, and restore Germany's influence in the European Union, adding that "Europe must become stronger again and Germany must become more involved in the European Union."
