Conservative victory in Germany: Pro-Israel Friedrich Merz wins as AfD surges to historic high

The conservative camp in Germany, led by Friedrich Merz, a staunch supporter of Israel, won today’s (Sunday) general elections with approximately 29% of the vote. Meanwhile, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to second place with an unprecedented 20%—the highest percentage for a right-wing party in Germany since World War II.

According to exit polls, alongside the victory of Merz’s CDU/CSU and the AfD’s historic success, Chancellor Scholz’s center-left SPD collapsed to a record low of 16.2%. The Green Party secured 13%, while the far-left Die Linke made a surprising gain with 8.5%. Two other parties—the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and the liberal FDP—hovered around the 5% electoral threshold.

Who is Friedrich Merz? The Man Poised to Lead Germany

Merz, 69 years old, was raised in the town of Brilon in western Germany in a respected Catholic conservative family. According to the BBC, he is the son of a local judge, a licensed pilot, and a trained lawyer. He entered European politics in 1989 at the age of 33, later built a successful career as an investment banker, and returned to politics in 2021 following the retirement of Angela Merkel, who had previously ousted him from party leadership in the early 2000s.

Merz has stood out for his strong support for Israel during the Gaza war. Last October, on the first anniversary of the October 7 massacre, he sharply criticized Scholz’s government for refusing to supply weapons and spare parts to Israel, citing concerns that they might be used for war crimes."Germany’s relationship with Israel is unique—without buts or ifs," he declared, pledging to combat anti-Israel protests and rising antisemitism in Germany.

Meanwhile, at the helm of AfD stands an especially paradoxical figure: Alice Weidel, 46, a lesbian economist who studied in China and speaks Mandarin fluently. She lives in a partnership with a Swiss film producer of Sri Lankan descent. In stark contrast to her personal life, Weidel leads a party that opposes immigration and advocates for Germany’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Weidel enjoys unprecedented support from Trump’s camp, including a meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance and endorsements from Elon Musk, who appears in her campaign videos. AfD’s dramatic rise is largely attributed to the ongoing immigration crisis and a series of deadly terror attacks that have shaken Germany.

Forming a government is expected to be highly complex. According to The Economist, the leading options are:

Economic Crisis & High Voter Turnout

This election took place against the backdrop of a severe economic crisis. A Gallup survey, cited by Le Monde, revealed that German economic optimism has plummeted from 42% to 27% within a year.

However, according to Bloomberg, financial markets reacted positively to the possibility of a Merz-led, business-friendly government. The German DAX stock index reached record highs, as investors anticipate potential reforms in Germany’s strict debt limits.

Meanwhile, The Financial Times reported record-high voter turnout: by 2:00 PM (German time), 52% of eligible voters had cast their ballots, compared to an average of 41% in elections since 1998.

Approximately 59 million Germans were eligible to vote in this election, out of a total population of 84 million.