Merz, 69, has no prior government experience but has pledged to provide stronger leadership than Chancellor Olaf Scholz. (AP photo)Germany’s opposition conservatives won the national election, setting leader Friedrich Merz on track to become the next chancellor, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved its best-ever result, exit polls showed.Following a campaign marked by violent attacks and interventions from US President Donald Trump’s administration, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc secured 28.5% of the vote, while AfD garnered 20%, according to an exit poll published by ZDF public broadcaster, Reuters reported.Merz, 69, has no prior government experience but has pledged to provide stronger leadership than Chancellor Olaf Scholz, restore Germany’s position in Europe, and enhance cooperation with key allies. A brash economic liberal who has shifted the conservatives to the right, he is considered the antithesis of former conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years.Despite the victory, the conservatives lack a majority in an increasingly fragmented political landscape and will need to negotiate a coalition, a process likely to be complicated by deep divisions over migration and the handling of the AfD.Scholz may remain in a caretaker role for months, delaying policies crucial to reviving Europe’s largest economy after two consecutive years of contraction.Also Read: | Germany elections: 5 things to know about Alice Weidel, face of Germany’s divisive far-right party AfDChallenges and coalition talksThe election results come amid mounting economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainty, reported Reuters. Germany, with its export-driven economy and reliance on US security guarantees, faces vulnerabilities, particularly as Trump threatens a trade war and seeks to fast-track a ceasefire deal for Ukraine without European involvement.Germans are also increasingly pessimistic about their living standards, a sentiment not seen since the 2008 financial crisis.Story continues below this adIn photos: protesters rally in Berlin and Switzerland ahead of German electionThe collapse of Scholz’s coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the pro-market Free Democrats (FDP) last November over budget disputes set the stage for this election. The campaign was dominated by concerns over irregular immigration, made worse by a series of attacks involving suspects of migrant origin.The AfD, now securing second place in a national election for the first time, continues to be shunned by mainstream parties, making its immediate governance unlikely. However, analysts speculate that its growing support could pave the way for an AfD victory in 2029, reported Reuters.Germany’s leadershipEuropean Union allies are cautiously optimistic that the election outcome will bring a more coherent German government capable of advancing domestic and EU policies. Some also hope Merz will reform the “debt brake,” a constitutional rule limiting government borrowing, which critics argue has stifled investment.Story continues below this adA likely outcome is a “grand coalition” between Merz’s CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD. However, a three-way coalition may be required if multiple smaller parties cross the 5% threshold to enter parliament, further complicating negotiations.(With inputs from Reuters)© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:Germanyworld news