Last Updated: Crux India
Nearly 60 million Germans voted on Feb 23, with polls indicating a leadership change. The CDU-CSU, led by Friedrich Merz, holds a strong lead but needs a coalition partner. The far-right AfD is polling second but remains politically isolated. Immigration and economic decline dominate the election debate. Coalition talks could delay forming a government for weeks. Merz seeks a quick resolution, targeting an Easter deadline. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD faces setbacks, and Germany’s political landscape is shifting significantly. n18oc_world n18oc_crux
