The Latest Breaking News from SPD

Friedrich Merz, the presumptive chancellor of Germany, has confirmed he will seek a coalition with the social democratic SPD after the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) won the February 23 election, topping the poll with 28.5%. Although the SPD has gone from winning the last election to a record low result of…

After a humbling election defeat for Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Social Democrats (SPD), the party looked to collect itself on Monday in preparation for a potential new role as the junior partner in a conservative-led government.

Leader of victorious conservative alliance says continent must build defence capability as US moves towards ‘America alone’ motto

Germany's likely next chancellor warned Europe can no longer rely on its American allies: "I never thought I would end up one day having to say that."

Friedrich Merz has taken aim at the US and says Europe must stand up for itself

Result is further evidence that political conversation around the climate crisis has shifted

Christian Democrats came first. But the far right and the left were the biggest gainers.

Friedrich Merz’s CDU/CSU may have won the German election, but all eyes are on the far-right AfD after its huge gains, say Fatma Aydemir, Katja Hoyer and others

In today’s newsletter: The far-right AfD may have come second, but at 20% they have been held off by the performance of mainstream parties, with the CDU leader Friedrich Merz on course to be the new chancellor

Most likely next German chancellor warns against rise of far right and says he intends to form new government by Easter

Friedrich Merz’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has captured the highest proportion of votes in Germany’s election on Sunday. The celebrations could be short-lived, though, as the task of forming a government now looms.