Germany’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) have won the country’s federal elections – as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) scores its best-ever result and Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party collapses.

The leader of the CDU/CSU bloc, Friedrich Merz, who will most likely become Germany’s next chancellor, said he would work on forming a government as soon as possible, though it is not yet clear how easy that will be.

Speaking on Sunday evening, Mr Merz said: “We have nearly eight weeks until Easter now, and I think that should be enough time – the maximum time – to form a government in Germany.”

As it happened: Conservatives and far-right set for record vote shares

Preliminary results of the official election count show the CDU/CSU took the largest share of the vote with 28.5%, while the AfD won a record 20.8% – its best result in a federal election since its formation in 2013.

Mr Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) collapsed to third with 16.4% – its worst post-war election result – while its previous coalition partners the Greens took 11.6%.

In some surprise results, the hard-left Left Party surged clear of 5% – the minimum vote share needed to get seats in the Bundestag – while the newly-founded left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) fell just short.

The Free Democratic Party (FDP), a former coalition partner and liberal party, also saw its vote collapse to 4.4%, taking them out of parliament.

Despite the AfD’s result, Mr Merz’s bloc and the rest of the mainstream parties have ruled out working with the far-right as part of a long-running pact known as the “firewall”.

‘The world out there is not waiting’

Mr Merz faces complex coalition negotiations and whether he will need one or two partners to form a pact will depend on how many parties get into parliament.

The 69-year-old admitted it would “not be easy”, adding: “The most important thing is to re-establish a viable government in Germany as quickly as possible… The world out there is not waiting for us.”

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Later on Sunday, while appearing on a German broadcaster’s post-election panel of party leaders, Mr Merz took aim at Donald Trump and said the US president’s administration has shown itself to be “largely indifferent to the fate of Europe”.

He called the comments made by American officials during negotiations on ending Russia’s war on Ukraine “ultimately outrageous” – and said: “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA.”

After exit polls on Sunday evening showed the CDU/CSU bloc in the lead, the US president said it was a “great day” for Germany.

He wrote on Truth Social that the “people of Germany got tired of the no common sense agenda, especially on energy and immigration”.

‘We have arrived’

Alice Weidel, the AfD’s co-leader and chancellor nominee, hailed her party’s results and said “our hand remains outstretched to form a government” – despite the “firewall” pact.

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“We have arrived as a party of the people,” she told a crowd, before saying that without the AfD in coalition, “no change of policy is possible in Germany”.

Co-leader Tino Chrupalla added the party “achieved something historic today”, and said: “We are now the political centre and we have left the fringes behind us.”

On Sunday evening, anti-fascist demonstrations broke out in Frankfurt and Berlin in protest at the far-right party’s performance.

‘Very bitter’ election for SPD

Conceding the election, Mr Scholz told voters that “the result is very bitter for the SPD”.

While still chancellor until the government votes on his replacement, he added he will not represent the party “in a federal government led by the CDU, nor will I negotiate for it”.

Meanwhile Christian Lindner – FDP party leader and former finance minister, whose dismissal by Mr Scholz led to the collapse of the coalition government – also resigned after a bruising night.

Posting on social media after it became clear his party would not meet the 5% vote threshold, he said: “The parliamentary elections brought defeat for the FDP but hopefully a new start for Germany. That’s what I fought for.

“Now I’m retiring from active politics. I have only one feeling: gratitude for almost 25 intense, challenging years full of productive work and debate.”

BSW narrowly out as Left surges

Founded in January last year, the BSW came just short of entering parliament with 4.9% of the vote.

But despite doubts the party could rally before the election, the Left Party made a comeback and surged to 8.8%.

Party candidate Heidi Reichinnek told German national broadcaster ARD: “I am so incredibly happy about our result.”

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And while the Greens still lost votes after its stint in the coalition, it recorded the smallest losses of the three parties – making Sunday’s vote “mixed” for the party’s chancellor, Robert Habeck.

He also said the vote showed “the centre is weakened overall, and everyone should look at themselves and ask whether they didn’t contribute to that”.

The Pope remains in a critical condition and is now showing an “initial, mild” kidney problem – but is “vigilant” and took part in Mass in hospital with those caring for him.

The Vatican statement said Francis hadn’t had any more “respiratory crises” since Saturday evening.

However, a problem with his kidneys has emerged, with blood tests showing “an initial, mild, renal insufficiency, which is currently under control”, according to the update.

The 88-year-old Pope is still having “high-flow oxygen therapy” into his nose, while his hemoglobin value has increased after being given blood transfusions on Saturday.

The Pope has been at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since 14 February and is being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.

Sunday evening’s statement said he was “vigilant and well oriented”, but due to the complexity of his case the prognosis is “reserved”.

“During the morning, in the apartment set up on the 10th floor, he participated in the Holy Mass, together with those who are taking care of him during these days of hospitalization,” the update added.

On Sunday morning, the Vatican said the Pope had a “tranquil” night and confirmed he would not lead prayers for the second week running.

Instead, Francis, who has been Pope since 2013, prepared words to be read on his behalf at the recitation of the Angelus.

‘I ask you to pray for me’

The Pope’s message said: “I am confidently continuing my hospitalisation at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!

“I sincerely thank the doctors and health workers of this hospital for the attention they are showing me and the dedication with which they carry out their service among the sick.

“In recent days I have received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children.

“Thank you for this closeness, and for the prayers of comfort I have received from all over the world! I entrust you all to the intercession of Mary, and I ask you to pray for me.”

The message is understood to have been written in the last few days.

On Saturday night, the Vatican said the Pope was in a critical condition after a “prolonged respiratory crisis” that required a high flow of oxygen.

It said he’d had blood transfusions after tests revealed thrombocytopenia, which is associated with anaemia.

Millions around the world have been concerned about his increasingly frail health – and his condition has given rise to speculation over a possible resignation.

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Doctors said on Friday that he was “not out of danger” and was expected to remain in hospital for at least another week.

They also warned that while he did not have sepsis, there was always a risk the infection could spread in his body.

Sepsis is a complication of an infection that can lead to organ failure and death.

Pope Francis has a history of respiratory illness, having lost part of one of his lungs to pleurisy as a young man. He also had an acute case of pneumonia in 2023.

Initial exit polls appear to confirm what we have known for weeks: that the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) have got the most votes in the federal election, with Friedrich Merz most likely to be the next chancellor.

While this result isn’t a surprise, it doesn’t mean the path to power will be easy.

First off, the CDU-CSU don’t have a majority so they need to try to build a coalition.

Their most obvious choices as partners are the third-place Social Democrats. A two-party coalition is preferred as it can avoid excess bickering but the SPD and CDU disagree on several key points including sending long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Follow live: Germany’s election results

Forming a government can take months but Mr Merz is keen to speed up the process – aware of the pressing issues both at home and abroad.

One of those is the rise of the far right, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party celebrating historic results.

The initial results suggest that for the first time since the Second World War, a far-right party has got the second highest number of votes.

That could also cause serious issues for the next government.

As a result of Germany‘s Nazi history, mainstream parties have a long-running pact known as the “firewall” which says they will not work with the far right.

Even before the polls had closed, AfD leader Alice Weidel echoed Donald Trump and released a video statement urging people to “observe” the ballots being counted and to “protect democracy”.

Many of the AfD’s supporters have said not allowing the second most popular party into government is undemocratic, threatening to take to the streets.

The US vice president JD Vance also sparked outrage when he spoke out against the firewall at the recent Munich Security Conference and suggested the new Trump administration would be ready to work with the AfD.

Conversely, in the run-up to the election, hundreds of thousands of Germans have protested to demand that the firewall remains.

In January, Mr Merz caused controversy when a draft motion got through parliament with AfD support, he’s since vowed he will not go into government with them.

If he sticks to that pledge then he is likely to see right-wing demonstrations as well becoming a target of prominent AfD backers including Elon Musk.

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The AfD’s result also cannot be ignored. While some of the vote may be a protest, the party has expanded its traditional base in the east to pick up support in the west.

Dissatisfaction over migration, the economy, rocketing prices and the war in Ukraine have all helped to grow its ranks as people feel ignored by mainstream parties.

Mr Merz has already tried to win back some of its voters by proposing tough migration reforms including permanent checks on the borders and potentially turning away some asylum seekers when they try to enter.

If he fails to deliver on these promises then the AfD will continue to make gains.

Other urgent to dos for the next government include sorting out Germany’s economy following two years of recession and restoring its position at the centre of the EU.

Ministers must also face up to the fact their traditional allies are no longer guaranteed.

The Trump administration appears to be ripping up the rule book when it comes to being a protector of Europe and its ongoing support for Ukraine.

If America steps back, as Europe’s largest power and Ukraine’s largest European backer, Germany will have to step up.

Again, that’s going to be a big challenge as its military needs to be transformed.

The final results are not even confirmed yet but whatever form it takes, the next government knows it has four years to fix Germany, if it fails then populists are highly likely to ride to power in 2029.