2021 German elections: Thin lead for Social Democrats

Germany voted this Sunday to elect Angela Merkel's successor, but the final results have not yet been confirmed. Angela Merkel will continue for a few months, until a new coalition is formed.

In the last elections of 2017, the Germans had to wait five months for the two major parties to agree to govern together and for Merkel to remain the head of government.

This Sunday's result makes a government led by the Social Democrats, who win by just one and a half points, more likely: 26% compared to 24.5% according to initial data.

The near-tie that comes out of the polls leaves an open stage with the two largest groups adding 210 and 204 seats in a 730-seat Bundestag.

Results from Sunday night (The percentage results of the 2017 federal election in brackets):

SPD: 26 percent (20.5 percent)
CDU/CSU: 24.5 percent (32.9 percent)
Greens: 13.9 percent (8.9 percent)
FDP: 11.7 percent (10.7 percent)
AfD: 10.5 percent (12.6 percent)
Left Party: 5.0 percent (9.2 percent)
Other: 8.4 percent (5 percent)

Olaf Scholz (SPD), who just four months ago saw himself in the polls touching 15% of the vote and as the third force and who leaves the polls first exceeding 25%, assured that the result is "a great success" and said that he would be "the next chancellor" Armin. Laschet (CDU) also said that he would try to form a government.

Annalena Baerbock (Greens) received 15%. Despite this result, party co-chair Robert Habeck said it was not "the one we expected." In May they were, according to all the polls and support from the media, the first force and exceeded 25%.

Sources: Junge Freiheit/Die Welt