German federal election 2025 blog: CDU's Merz declares victory, Scholz admits defeat
Europe • Feb 23, 2025, 8:53 AM
1 min de lecture
German citizens went to the polls this Sunday, taking part in snap federal elections in a vote that will shape the course of the EU's largest member state and its biggest economy for the next four years.
After the first exit polls, the centre-right CDU’s Friedrich Merz has come out of the election as its main winner and is now likely set to become chancellor, replacing Olaf Scholz from the centre-left SPD, who admitted defeat on Sunday evening.
The incoming government will inherit an economy that has shrunk for two consecutive years for the first time in decades, rising living costs, and calls for a radical overhaul of its immigration and asylum rules.
Euronews' TV show was live from 5:30 pm CET, featuring a number of notable guests and our correspondents and analysts discussing the political meaning of the results, the next steps for Germany, and the vote's impact on Europe.
Revisit Sunday's updates in our live blog below, and rewatch our live coverage in the player above.
Today
CDU in driver's seat after German election but coalition might be necessary: Four key takeaways
Europe • 9:57 PM
10 min
Germany's election reshapes the political scene, with the far right and far left parties on the rise and coalition chaos and uncertainty for the minnows on the cards. Will CDU's Merz be able to form a coalition until Easter?<div class="small-12 column tex
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Pope Francis conscious and receiving supplemental oxygen, the Vatican says
Europe • 6:49 PM
7 min
The leader of the Catholic Church, who has chronic lung disease and is prone to respiratory illness in winter, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on 14 February after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.<div class="small-12 column text-center arti
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Merz’s centre-right CDU lead in Germany’s federal election, exit polls show
Europe • 6:38 PM
7 min
Incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz has conceded defeat for his centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) after what he called “a bitter election result” on Sunday.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/
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American Airlines flight diverts to Rome after bomb threat over Caspian Sea
Europe • 6:18 PM
1 min
An American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi was diverted to Rome due to a bomb threat. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with 199 passengers, was escorted by military jets.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.eur
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Zelenskyy 'willing to step down' in return for Ukraine's NATO accession
Europe • 5:52 PM
3 min
The Ukrainian president said that he is focused on Ukraine's security today and called for further guarantees from Europe and the US.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/02/23/zelenskyy-
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Vladimir Putin praises soldiers fighting in Ukraine for 'defending the future of Russia'
Europe • 4:30 PM
5 min
The Russian president also used his video message on Sunday to pledge greater support for military personnel and new weapons and equipment for the army.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/20
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Top candidates cast their votes on German federal election day
Europe • 3:07 PM
12 min
Incumbent Chancellor Scholz and CDU leader Merz cast their votes in Germany's critical election on Sunday, expected to lead to difficult coalition negotiations.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-e
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Ukraine hit by largest drone attack since war began, says President Zelenskyy
Europe • 2:42 PM
3 min
Ukraine faced its largest drone assault since Russia's invasion, with 267 drones launched, out of which 138 were intercepted.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/02/23/ukraine-hit-by-lar
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Explained: How does Germany’s electoral system work and what changes this year?
Europe • 11:23 AM
5 min
Sunday’s crunch vote is a first test for a recently reformed electoral law.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/02/23/explained-how-does-germanys-electoral-system-work-and-what-changes-t
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German federal election 2025 blog: CDU's Merz declares victory, Scholz admits defeat
Europe • 8:53 AM
1 min
Revisit Euronews' Sunday blog as Germany voted to elect its new chancellor and parliament.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/02/23/german-federal-election-2025-live-updates-germany-goe
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The trial of 'France's biggest paedophile offender' opens in Vannes, Brittany, on Monday
Europe • 7:58 AM
12 min
Joël Le Scouarnec is accused of aggravated rape and sexual assault of 299 victims, almost all minors, between 1989 and 2014. This "extraordinary" trial took two years to prepare.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www
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European leaders stress support for Ukraine but disagree on peacekeeping mission
Europe • 7:10 AM
7 min
An informal summit in Paris among European leaders concluded without any concrete announcement, as the idea of deploying peacekeeping troops to Ukraine remains highly divisive.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.e
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Pope Francis in critical condition after long respiratory crisis
Europe • 4:53 AM
8 min
The 88-year-old pope received high flows of oxygen and blood transfusions in hospital as he battles a complex lung infection.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/02/23/pope-francis-in-cr
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Orbán: 'We have been given a chance to break through the empire's battlements'
Europe • 12:45 AM
3 min
Ukraine will not become a member of the EU, inflation will be fought again with a price freeze, big family tax cuts are coming, and Pride should not be organised this year - these were among the issues raised in the PM's annual assessment speech.<div clas
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Parliament speaker: Ukraine to start work on finalising US minerals deal on Monday
Europe • 12:37 AM
9 min
Washington's demands for around $500 billion (€477 billion) in mineral wealth from Ukraine was initially rejected by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the grounds that the US hadn't offered any security guarantees.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__but
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Polls open in pivotal parliamentary elections in Germany
Europe • 12:37 AM
20 min
German are voting for their next parliament and, ultimately, government on Sunday in the country’s snap federal election. The election is expected to feature a high voter turnout.<div class="small-12 column text-center article__button"><a href="https://ww
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