Early exit polls suggest that Friedrich Merz, the candidate for the conservative Christian Democrats who has vowed to bring stronger leadership in Europe, will be Germany’s next leader. The hard-right AfD party was in second place.The current time in Berlin is 5:43 p.m. on February 23, 2025. The national elections are currently taking place and the latest updates show that the hard-right AfD party is expected to have a strong showing. This election is of great importance as Europe re-evaluates its relationship with the Trump administration.
According to The New York Times, Germans are casting their ballots at polling stations in Berlin. The election was called earlier than expected due to the splintering of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition last fall. The current favorite to become the new chancellor is Friedrich Merz, a businessman and leader of the conservative Christian Democrats.
The final polls before Election Day show the Christian Democrats in the lead, with the nationalist, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) in second place. First projections will be released once the polls close at 6 p.m. local time, and these numbers are expected to be accurate due to extensive exit polling.
If Merz wins, he will need to form a coalition with at least one other party, most likely the Social Democrats or the Green Party. All chancellor candidates have pledged not to govern with the AfD, which has been classified as extremist by German intelligence. The main issues dominating the campaign have been the economy and immigration, with the Trump administration becoming a late-arriving issue. Candidates have warned that the United States is no longer a reliable ally, and how Germans vote will have a significant impact on Europe’s response to President Trump’s new world order.
The two main issues of the campaign, immigration policy and the economic crisis, have been heavily debated. The AfD has gained support by promising to deport immigrants and close borders, which has been endorsed by Trump adviser Elon Musk and received some encouragement from Vice President JD Vance. The U.S. involvement in the campaign has caused some left-leaning voters to be put off, but has been welcomed by supporters of the AfD, according to interviews at polling stations.
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