German election: CDU leader Merz promises to form new government ‘quickly’
Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic bloc CDU/CSU, has promised to form a coalition government as soon as possible. He stated this on Sunday after the exit polls showed that CDU/CSU became Germany's largest party again after three years of opposition.
“We, the CDU and CSU, won the 2025 Bundestag elections,” Merz stated. He pointed out that the formation of a new government should not take too long in the current international context. “The world is not waiting for us. We must now quickly become effective again.”
For now, Merz is not commenting on future coalition partners. Merz did always state during the campaign that cooperation with the far-right party AfD is out of the question.
AfD is, however, the party that is making the most progress. Party leader Alice Weidel therefore spoke of a “historic” result. “We have never been so strong at the national level,” she declared. Despite the “Brandmauer”, the German variant of Belgium’s “cordon sanitaire” against Vlaams Belang, she still hopes for government participation. “Our hand will always be outstretched for participation in government, to carry out the will of the people, the will of Germany,” Weidel said.
Outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz of SPD admitted defeat. “This is a bitter election result for the Social Democratic Party,” he said. He also acknowledged his responsibility for the election defeat.
Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) © BELGA PHOTO INA FASSBENDER / AFP
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