Dr Oliver Hartwich: Germany’s post-election theatre of the absurd

Winning an election can still mean losing control. This paradox is playing out in Germany right now. The Christian Democrats under would-be Chancellor Friedrich Merz have squandered their election win with breathtaking efficiency.

The 23 February 2025 election results presented a challenging political landscape. Merz’s centre-right CDU/CSU bloc won with 28.5 per cent of the vote. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) followed at 20.8 per cent. The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) limped in with a historically poor 16.4 per cent, while the Greens secured a meagre 11.6 per cent and the far-left Die Linke a surprising 8.8 per cent.