German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has conceded defeat in his country’s national election after exit polls revealed huge losses for his party. Center-right opposition leader Friedrich Merz claimed victory, with exit polls indicating his bloc leading and the far-right AfD achieving its best-ever result in a German national election.
The far-right party is headed for its strongest showing since World War II.
During his concession speech, outgoing Chancellor Scholz expressed concern over the historic gains made by the far-right conservative party, AfD. The anti-immigrant party is poised for second place in the national election, while Scholz’s party has fallen to third.

Center-right leader Merz acknowledged the magnitude of the challenges ahead and emphasized that forming a governing coalition would not be easy. He said, ‘We have prepared ourselves very, very well for this Bundestag election and for assuming government responsibility,’ during an election night party in Berlin.

AfD leader Alice Weidel has pledged to surpass the Union bloc and secure first place in the next election. Co-leader Tino Chrupalla celebrated the party’s success, declaring, ‘We have achieved something historic today. We have gained 100%. … We are now the political center and have left the fringes behind us.’