The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won the general election in Germany on Sunday. The CDU led by Frederik Merz got the most 28.6 percent of votes. Despite being the largest party, CDU got less than 30 percent of the votes as expected.

The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has become the second largest party in the polls. AfD got 20 percent of the vote. But the polls showed that the party will get more votes. SPD 16.4, Greens 11.6, Left 8.8,  BSW got 4.97 percent, FDP got 4.3 percent.

316 seats are needed to form a government in the 630-seat Bundestag (German Parliament). CDU has won 208 seats. According to the vote results, CDU needs 108 more votes to form the government. AfD got 152 seats, SPD got 120 seats, Greens got 85 seats, Left got 64 seats. According to the German media, a possible coalition government will be between the CDU and the SPD. If the SPD does not participate in the coalition, the CDU seems to have to persuade the Greens and the Left. 

With the election results, CDU leader Frederik Merz has been confirmed as the new chancellor . Expressing his happiness that the people believed in him, he said, "Today we are celebrating". We will work from tomorrow.' He said that he is aware of his responsibilities.

Elise Weidl, who has become a chancellor candidate from the rival AfD, has responded that 'Germans voted for change'. He claims that even if the merger party forms a coalition government, it will not be successful. "I don't think I have to wait another four years." We will go for fresh elections,' she said.

Before the election, Merz called on the voters to give a clear mandate so that a coalition between at least two parties can be formed. It was his election promise to enable him to solve the problems facing the country . But his party said that it would not form an alliance with the AfD.

A merger requires an alliance with at least one other party to deliver the necessary seats for the chancellor . He is expected to ally with the current Chancellor Olaf Solz's SPD. The three-party coalition government led by Solj collapsed last year. According to the BBC, Soldier, who is about to leave the government, said that he will not participate in the talks to form a coalition government, stating that the election results were not in his favor.

After the election results, European leaders have congratulated the merger . British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is ready to work with the new German government and build on the already strong relationship between the two countries.

Similarly, French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated the merger and said that the two countries will work together for a powerful Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev is ready to work together with Germany. "Europe must set up industries and produce results." Europe must be able to defend itself,' he said.

During the election campaign, he promised strong leadership in Europe . But amid internal pressure to reduce the country's military budget, he has said that he will increase the assistance he is giving to Ukraine. Germany is currently second in the list of countries providing military aid to Ukraine. Similarly, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Israel and other countries also congratulated the merger and said that they are ready to move forward together.  

Russia has reacted cautiously to Merz's victory. The Kremlin said the Russian presidential office should wait to see how relations between Russia and a new German government develop. "After the new government is formed in Germany, we hope for a more calm approach to reality, a more approach to issues of mutual interest, to what can be mutual benefits." But let's see what happens in reality,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

His relationship with the American administration does not seem to be smooth. Before the election, US President Trump as well as US Vice President JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk openly supported AfD leader Alice Widel. Musk said, 'Only the AfD can save Germany .'

After the election results, Trump praised the CDU's electoral victory as proof of his popular political movement. "The people of Germany, like America, are tired of the general agenda that has prevailed for years, especially energy and immigration," Trump wrote on social media. Congratulations to everyone.'

With the announcement of preliminary results, Merz has said that he will get 'independence' from the US . He says that strengthening Europe is his priority and he should not rely on Washington for his defense. "This is my absolute priority, I have no illusions about what comes from America," he said.

Merge has targeted Musk and said he interfered in the election campaign to support the AfD. "Washington's interventions were no less dramatic and chaotic than the interventions we've seen from Moscow." So we are under a lot of pressure from two sides,' said Merz.

He says that he is not sure that NATO will remain in its 'current form' until the next meeting in June. 'Or we will have to establish an independent European defense capability very quickly,' he said.

83 percent of voters cast their votes in the elections held on Sunday. This is the highest turnout since the two Germanys were united in 1990 . Out of 59.2 million eligible voters, millions had already cast their votes by post before election day. 

Who is Merge ? 

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz will become the new chancellor of Germany . Merz, 69, is a familiar face to his party and supporters. He was born in the West German city of Brillon in 1955 into a prominent conservative Catholic family. Merz's father served as a local judge . 

Merz's wife, Charlotte Gass, is a sitting judge. He married Gass in 1981. Merz joined CDU at school age. After schooling, he worked in the military service for some time. After studying law, Merz worked as a lawyer for a few years.

Merz, who is interested in politics, was elected to the European Parliament in 1989 at the age of 33. After that, he emerged from the extreme right-wing and traditionalist faction in the party . But in 1994, he returned to Germany's national politics from European Union politics.