Germany’s main conservative alliance has won the early federal election, taking a major step closer to forming the new government.
Based on first exit polls, the conservative Christian Democratic Union, led by Friedrich Merz who is set to become the next chancellor, and its sister party, the Christian Social Union, garnered most of the vote. The bloc won 28-point-6 percent of votes followed by the right-wing Alternative for Germany, with 20-point-4 percent. The Social Democratic Party ended fourth by winning 16-point-3 percent of the vote. The election was called after the three-way coalition of Social Democrats, Greens, and the neo-liberal Free Democratic Party collapsed in late 20-24. With a turnout of over 83-percent, the election saw the highest voter participation since 19-90. While the conservatives won the largest share of votes, they have so far fallen short of an absolute majority and will need a coalition partner to secure at least three-hundred-16 seats in the parliament to form the next government.