SPD narrowly ahead in exit polls as voting ends in Germany’s landmark election but final result uncertain

A Forschungsgruppe Wahlen exit poll for CNN affiliate n-tv suggested the SPD had 26% of the vote, with the center-right Christian Democratic Union of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel on 24%, followed by the Greens at 14.5%, the FDP at 12% and the AfD at 10%.

“The voters have decided that the Social Democratic party has gained, and this is a great success,” said SPD leader Olaf Scholz in remarks at his party’s headquarters.

Scholz said the voters wanted him to be next chancellor. “Many citizens have put their crosses next to the SPD because they want there to be a change in government and also because they want the next chancellor of this country to be called Olaf Scholz.”

“Pragmatism, optimism, unity that is what we will show because that is what counts, and I am sure the citizens will also be happy post election about their decision,” he added.

Loud applause and cheering from jubilant party supporters interrupted Scholz as he spoke.

“Now we will await the final result, but then we will get to work. Thank you!” Scholz said.

Robin Fugmann, 20, an ardent Scholz supporter, told CNN he was delighted by the results so far.

“It is really an amazing result, people believe in Olaf Scholz, people believe that Armin Laschet really cannot lead this country,” he said. “So we really have the mandate to lead a new government — I hope we will do so. And first of all we are going to celebrate because this is a really amazing result.”

By contrast, the mood at CDU headquarters was downcast as the initial exit polls emerged, suggesting the CDU could be looking at the worst result in its history.

The party “cannot be content with this result,” CDU leader Armin Laschet told supporters, while noting that the result remained unclear.

“We can foresee that there could be a government with three parties,” he said, as he said the party would “do everything to try to build a coalition.”

Laschet added that the CDU had “got a mandate against a leftist government.”

The party had campaigned on a message of stability for the country after Merkel, seen as a steady pair of hands over the past nearly 16 years, steps down.

“This is a result with bitter losses — there’s no way to sugarcoat it,” said CDU secretary-general Paul Zemiak. “This result really hurts.”

But, Zemiak added, the results are not yet final. “The evening is long and we will see what the next few hours will bring,” he said.

The crowd at the Green party headquarters in Berlin cheered as the first exit polls were being read out.

Greens’ leader Annalena Baerbock thanked the party’s supporters, saying: “We have led a campaign as we have never before experienced in this country — around the clock, until last night, the last second.”

The outgoing government remains in office as acting government until it is replaced by a new government. Chancellor Angela Merkel, 67, will then stand down and the new chancellor will take the reins.