Jessica Parker

Mr Mertz has pledged that he won't go into government with the AfD. Sections of the party are classed as right-wing extremists by domestic intelligence services, but a fifth of voters backed them at this election. The party consolidated its support in the former communist East and and continues to enjoy a marked rise in popularity amongst young people.

Mr Mertz has pledged that he won't go into government with the AfD. Sections of the party are classed as right-wing extremists by domestic intelligence services, but a fifth of voters backed them at this election. The party consolidated its support in the former communist East and and continues to enjoy a marked rise in popularity amongst young people.

Its leader, Alice Weidel, believes they can leapfrog Merz's CDU at the next election.

Its leader, Alice Weidel, believes they can leapfrog Merz's CDU at the next election.

It is one thing that centrist parties and the AfD seem to agree on. The performance of the next German government could prove decisive in the far-right's popularity in Germany. Is it at a peak or will it continue to grow?

It is one thing that centrist parties and the AfD seem to agree on. The performance of the next German government could prove decisive in the far-right's popularity in Germany. Is it at a peak or will it continue to grow?

Just in the room beyond where I am at the moment, there is some loud music playing, a band going, people are drinking beer and sipping German sparkling wine. So in that way, it's pretty cheery. And when those exit polls first dropped, there were cheers and applause. But I think there is also a bit of disappointment that they don't seem to have done better than the exit polls are so far suggesting.

Just in the room beyond where I am at the moment, there is some loud music playing, a band going, people are drinking beer and sipping German sparkling wine. So in that way, it's pretty cheery. And when those exit polls first dropped, there were cheers and applause. But I think there is also a bit of disappointment that they don't seem to have done better than the exit polls are so far suggesting.

I think there have been hopes of being at 30 or above 30%. So a little bit of disappointment there. But also, you know, they are a party that looks like it will now lead the next coalition government. So in that sense, they're cheerful.

I think there have been hopes of being at 30 or above 30%. So a little bit of disappointment there. But also, you know, they are a party that looks like it will now lead the next coalition government. So in that sense, they're cheerful.

Yeah, Mr Mertz, Friedrich Mertz, the leader of the CDU, very clear he wants it to be a two-party coalition for the obvious reason that it's much easier to negotiate a coalition deal and then govern the country. And we've seen that because of Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition, which, of course, collapsed.

Yeah, Mr Mertz, Friedrich Mertz, the leader of the CDU, very clear he wants it to be a two-party coalition for the obvious reason that it's much easier to negotiate a coalition deal and then govern the country. And we've seen that because of Olaf Scholz's three-way coalition, which, of course, collapsed.

What we're looking out for now is whether these smaller parties actually make it into the Bundestag. So, Saarland Connects, BSV... The FDP as well, they look like they may well crash out because you have to reach this 5% threshold. So I think people are waiting to see how those numbers shake down because if they don't make it in, then the seats kind of formations change.

What we're looking out for now is whether these smaller parties actually make it into the Bundestag. So, Saarland Connects, BSV... The FDP as well, they look like they may well crash out because you have to reach this 5% threshold. So I think people are waiting to see how those numbers shake down because if they don't make it in, then the seats kind of formations change.

So all eyes on those numbers overnight. And Friedrich Merz will then want to get to work with those negotiations.

So all eyes on those numbers overnight. And Friedrich Merz will then want to get to work with those negotiations.

Yeah, Die Linke having a bit of a late surge there, the left party. Definitely people I speak to, and the results bear this out, suggest that more people are moving to the left or to the right. Certainly people I've spoken to suggest that they've seen that within their friendship groups as well. But for Alternativa, for Deutschland, practically doubling their result from the last week. election.

Yeah, Die Linke having a bit of a late surge there, the left party. Definitely people I speak to, and the results bear this out, suggest that more people are moving to the left or to the right. Certainly people I've spoken to suggest that they've seen that within their friendship groups as well. But for Alternativa, for Deutschland, practically doubling their result from the last week. election.

So they're pretty ecstatic in that sense. But as you were mentioning, they won't get into power because other parties won't work with them. But they're seeing this as a stepping stone to the next election. They certainly have their eye on 2029. Jessica Parker.

So they're pretty ecstatic in that sense. But as you were mentioning, they won't get into power because other parties won't work with them. But they're seeing this as a stepping stone to the next election. They certainly have their eye on 2029. Jessica Parker.