The conservative CDU and its Bavarian ally CSU declared victory in the recent 2025 federal election, yet their 28% share failed to meet expectations of over 30%. CDU leader Friedrich Merz acknowledged the win but noted the need for coalition partners due to the electoral system. The far-right AfD garnered substantial support, prompting its co-leader to suggest coalition talks despite the CDU’s refusal citing fundamental policy differences. The situation indicates a challenging political landscape for the CDU/CSU as they seek to govern without collaborating with AfD.
"We won the 2025 federal election," enthused Friedrich Merz, CDU leader and the Union's chancellor candidate, on election night in Berlin.
"We have fundamental differences of opinion, for example in foreign policy, in security policy, in many other areas, on the topics of Europe, NATO and the euro currency," reiterated Merz.
"We will hound the others, so they make sensible policies for our country," she said.
"You can hold out your hand as much as you like," he told Weidel.
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