February 19, 2025, Berlin: visitors walk in front of the German flag in the Bundestag dome.
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While a new chapter of German politics begins following the federal elections on the weekend, there is a distinct feeling of already seen in Berlin when an alliance central-right is preparing to take over the reins in Berlin.
The conservative alliance carried out by the Democratic Christian Union (CDU) and its sister party La Christian Social Union (CSU) won 28.6% of the votes during the on Sunday ballot, followed by the extreme right alternative for the ‘Germany (AFD) in second place with 20.8 % and the Social Democratic Party of Center-Gauche (SPD) in third with 16.4 % of the votes, according to Preliminary results of the federal return officer.
The results, which should be confirmed on Monday, mean that the Friedrich Merz of the CDU-CSU will probably be the next Chancellor of Germany, succeeded at Olaf Scholz of the SPD after the collapse of its three-part coalition at the end from last year.
The CDU-CSU is no stranger to the power having led several “large coalitions” in Germany during the last century. Now, he should form a new “old coalition”, the center-left SPD being the most likely partner for the Alliance, although the Greens were not excluded from the association with the union.
Familiar challenges remain, however, to the new direction of Germany, with a robbery economy and the need to increase internal expenditure – a large part of which depends on the German legislators able to reform a rule limiting the restrictive debt known under the “Debt braking” name – forming an immediate and urgent concern.
Then there is the difficult relationship of Germany with the world beyond, namely, the American president Donald Trump threatening the commercial prices which harm more to the German automotive industry.
Politicians, economists and German and American business leaders are no doubt about the obstacles to which a new government is confronted, but the prospect of a new administration ignited the hope that there will be a change for the ‘Economy in difficulty.
Here is a selection of the immediate reaction to the result of the German elections:
Probably Chancellor Friedrich Merz:
“We won it because the CDU and the CSU worked well together and we prepared very well for this election and also for taking control of responsibility,” said Merz on Sunday As the exit polls appeared, signaling the victory of the Alliance.
During a press conference on Merz on Monday, Merz said that he was aiming for a coalition with the SPD, declaring that talks could start immediately.
Defeated the leader of the SPD Olaf Scholz:
“It is a bitter electoral result for the social democratic party. It is also an electoral defeat, [and] I think it must be said once clear, from the start, given a result like this, “said Scholz at the party’s headquarters on Sunday evening after the SPD rupture in the ballot.
“This time, the result of the elections is bad and I therefore also have the responsibility of this electoral result,” he added.
Carsten Brzeski, macro world leader, research: Research:
“It will be complicated” to form a new coalition, CNBC Annette Weisbach told Berlin on Monday.
“We have only one option and this is another great coalition. The problem will be that the SPD is extremely injured – the worst result of all time – they will therefore be in a sort of existential crisis.”
“We will get some cyclic support, we will get tax reductions, we will probably also get investment programs. Current constellation of the next parliament, it will not be possible,” he warned.
President of Siemens Energy, Joe KaeSer:

“This is a case of restructuring, we must be honest about it,” he told Julianna Tatelbaum in CNBC on Monday.
KaeSer said that a “2030 agenda” should have five key areas, focusing on the economy, infrastructure and energy, education and innovation, restructuring the pension system and, finally “, government control and government reforms “.
“People in Germany wonder, is our country sure? And they wonder if the government and the institution have everything under control. This was one of the main reasons why so many people were turning to this AFD , because they wonder if our ours, our state, our country, is still in control.
Arnd Franz, CEO of the Mahle automobile parts manufacturer:
“From our point of view, it is really time to act, and after yesterday’s elections, we want the new German government to train quickly and then take a decisive and immediate action and also a long and long -term vision and in the long term and in the long term and in the long term and in the long term and in the long term and in the long term and A roadmap to really bring the economy of Europe to the right track, “he told Carolin Roth on Monday on Monday.

“I think that the German manufacturing sector requires urgent action in terms of taxes, in terms of energy costs, and also in terms of flexibility of the labor market. There are three big things that are important for everyone in the manufacturing sector. The automotive industry, of course, regulations is a leading problem. “”
US President Donald Trump:
“It seems that the conservative party in Germany won the very important and long-awaited elections. Like the United States, the inhabitants of Germany have tired of the No Common Sense agenda, in particular on energy and the ‘Immigration, which has prevailed for so many years, “President Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social Sunday evening.
“It’s a great day for Germany,” He added.
John Emerson, former American ambassador to Germany:
“I think this is very good news for Germany. I am actually quite close to Friedrich Merz,” said Emerson, former American ambassador to Germany, reacting to the comments of Friedrich Merz on Sunday evening that C ‘ was “an absolute priority” to “strengthen” Europe as quickly as possible so that we could obtain real independence from the United States step by step “.
“I think he is very serious about where he spoke [Sunday night]Indeed, declaring the independence of the United States and, I suppose [U.S. Vice President] JD Vance and Donald Trump cannot complain, “Emerson told Steve Sedgwick from CNBC.

“Merz is a guy in free trade … So when I hear him talk about independence, I hear that as much as” we have to get to a point where we can stand alone in terms of expenses and Reinforcement of military capacities.
Alicia Garcia Herrero, economist at the Bruegel reflection group:
“What is happening with the United States, in terms of price or in terms of trade, is extremely important” for Germany, according to Herrero, a principal researcher in Bruegel for economic reflection. “I think Europe wakes up and Merz is the best example,” she told CNBC on Monday.
“They [European leaders] realize that they must get closer. And it is the silver lining that could make Europe stronger, which could make Germany stronger, which could force Germany, for once, to really think of a military proposal the EU, this which would mean, however, that Germany should leave debt breaking. “
Lars Feld, director of the Walter Euken Institute:

Feld, also a former adviser to the former German Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner, commented the probability of a new special defense fund after current expiration.
“I think it is very difficult to interpret simply because the AFD and the left party have a blocking minority in the Bundestag, it will therefore not be easy to change the constitution. This means that if the new government wants Having a special defense fund is certainly not going to happen, “he said.
“The current special fund ended in 2028, then additional funding is necessary, and in particular if there is a need for rapid rearmament of the German Bundestag of the German army, this cannot be easily resolved in the Current special fund and this means that it depends a lot on the proposal of the new government, the reform of the breakdown of the debt and if one or the other member of the Left Party in Parliament supports this. “”
Beatrix von Storch, deputy chief of AFD:

“It is a historical result. We have doubled our figures. We are the only opposition party now, which is not on the left side, so we will push the new government more and more,” said Storch in An interview with CNBC.
Christian Democrats [CDU] campaigned on illegal migration and they campaigned on the modification of politics with regard to economy and energy, and they will not be able to change this policy because they are now in coalition with the party of the Former Chancellor, the SPD, the Social Democrats and Olaf Scholz Party, “she said.
“So, everything they have promised, they cannot deliver, and we will do it very clearly, of course, we will support each movement and each law that will be deposited when it comes to stopping illegal migration, But it will in no case be enough. “