Germany Friedrich Merz promised to “realize independence” of the United States after its center-right block won the federal elections, putting it at the head of a potentially complex coalition during the upheaval for the Europe.
In an election where Germany moved to the right, the Christian Democrats of Merz (CDU / CSU) came first with 28.6% of the vote on Sunday, leaving at least one coalition partner to guarantee a parliamentary majority that works.
The extreme right alternative of Germany (AFD) arrived second, with its highest voting share of around 21%.
In the hours following the closure of polls, Merz said that Germany should fundamentally refuse its security agreements and end a decade of decade in Washington, since US President Donald Trump was “largely indifferent” Europe.
Merz said: “I am in close contact with many Prime Ministers – EU heads of government. And it must be an absolute priority to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we actually reach the independence of the United States.
“I wouldn’t have thought I should say something like that. . . But after Donald Trump’s statements, it is clear that the Americans, at least this American government, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe. »»
Merz, who said he was not sure of NATO’s future, also underlined Washington’s interventions in the German electoral campaign and compared it to Russian interference.
The Trump administration openly courted AFD and criticized German politicians from Germany for refusing to cooperate with a party that flirted with slogans from the Nazi era, urged the end of the sanctions against Russia and called for deportations of migrants.
Trump in recent weeks, has blinded Europe by organizing direct talks with Russia during the end of the war in Ukraine and threatened to draw US security guarantees from the continent. Germany welcomes the largest contingent of American troops stationed in Europe.
Trump earlier on Sunday, described the result of elections as proof that “the inhabitants of Germany got tired of the No Common Sense agenda, in particular on energy and immigration, which has been prevailing for so many years ».
Merz has no choice but to form a coalition with the Social Democratic Party of the outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who won just over 16% of the votes – his worst result since 1887.
The traditional partner of Christian Democrats, the free business democrats (FDP), did not succeed in the 5% threshold to enter the Bundestag.
The next parliament should contain five parts, including the Greens, the AFD and the Dist Linke. A two -part coalition of Christian Democrats and the SPD would fill a majority in the Bundestag.
It remained clear if Merz could negotiate a majority of ruling strong enough to browse fundamental reforms, including the revisions of a constitutionally listed limit for public loan.
“I know the extent of the challenge that awaits us,” said Merz. “I approach it with the greatest respect. And I know it will not be easy.
“We have had a difficult campaign, but now we are going to talk to each other,” said Merz, adding that it could be even more difficult to form a coalition than expected during the electoral campaign.
The euro strengthened from 0.6% to $ 1,052 during morning negotiations in Asia while DAX term contracts increased by 1.1%.
The results mark a large swing on the right in Germany after a series of deadly attacks by migrants have fueled the anti-immigrant feeling.
The participation rate has reached its highest level since German reunification in 1990, according to data from the output survey, at a level of 84%.
German voters avoided Scholz’s unpopular coalition with the Greens and the FDP. The greatest economy in the euro zone has stagnated over the past two years, while German industry was competed in high energy prices and Chinese competition.
Scholz said he would go back from the front line policy after “a bitter result”.
Alice Weidel, the AFD co-leader, celebrated the party who doubled her 2021 voting share, to obtain the biggest far-right gains in Germany since the Second World War.
“We have led a magnificent campaign,” said Weidel because she stressed that her party was open to coalition talks with the CDU / CSU to meet “the will of the people”.
After having attended three years of intestine struggles among the main members of Scholz’s fractious coalition, the strategists of the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU wanted to avoid needing more than one partner to form a government .
The distant alliance of the Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) fell just below the seats in the Parliament, a result which would have prevented the CDU / CSU from building a functional majority with the SPD.
As part of the German electoral system, the parties earning less than 5% of the votes are excluded from Parliament and their votes are redistributed, strengthening success groups.
Holger Schmieding, an economist of Berenberg Bank, warned against a “serious risk” that the marginal parties could be strong enough to block the changes in the German Constitution.
“If this is the case, they could oppose his veto to the debt brake dedicated to the Constitution”, when it was “crucial to lift expenses for the military and Ukraine and facilitate tax burden for Workers and businesses, ”he added.
Visualization of data by Martin Stabe and Jonathan Vincent. Additional reports from William Sandlund to Hong Kong
