German voters have delivered a fragmented verdict, reflecting deep political shifts and divisions within the country. While Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) have emerged victorious, their lower than-expected 28.6 per cent vote share underscores the challenges ahead. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a historic second-place finish with 20.8 per cent, a sign of Germany’s political polarisation.

The results raise critical questions about the future of governance, coalition-building, and the broader implications for Europe. Mr Merz’s victory was not the decisive mandate he had hoped for. His campaign centred on economic revival, border security, and reducing bureaucracy; yet his party fell short of the 30 per cent threshold they had targeted. With the Social Democrats (SPD) suffering their worst-ever defeat at 16.4 per cent and the Greens underperforming, forming a stable coalition will be a far from straightforward task. The traditional centrist bloc is struggling to command........

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