From CDU dismay to Green disappointment to SPD delight
It has been a long time since a German election was so exciting. DW collected images of reactions from the various party headquarters.
Celebration for the SPD
There was jubilation at the Willy Brandt House, although it's unclear whether the Social Democrats (SPD) will emerge from this election as the strongest party. Initial projections indicate that the SPD won around 25% — a comeback few had believed possible in the spring. This would mean that, for the first time in 16 years, the SPD may be the party to provide the German chancellor.
Scholz wants to govern
The SPD's visibly delighted chancellor candidate, Olaf Scholz, is convinced that this chancellor should be him. The results indicate a clear mandate for the SPD, he says; many voters have made it clear that they want a "change of government."
CDU in mourning
The first exit polls came as a shock: The result for the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) result is the worst in the history of their grouping. The parties have won only about 25% of the vote — a drop of about eight percentage points from 2017 — and are neck-and-neck with the SPD.
Crestfallen candidate
The CDU's chancellor candidate, Armin Laschet, says his party's poor showing in the election has produced an "exceptional situation" — yet he remains combative. "A vote for the Union is a vote against a left-led federal government. That's why we will do everything in our power to form a government under the leadership of the CDU/CSU," he said.
The Greens' party atmosphere
Meanwhile, at the Greens' HQ, veteran politician Renate Künast joined her colleagues in doing the wave. The environmentalists were in excellent spirits at their election party, boosted by a very good result. Initial projections indicate that the Greens garnered about 15% of the vote — their highest share ever. It will be almost impossible to form a coalition government without them.
FDP moderately pleased
The neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) greeted the election results with modest applause. At about 11%, the FDP's result has hardly changed since 2017. Like the Greens, the FDP, too, could play kingmaker: in a "Jamaica" coalition with the CDU/CSU and the Greens, for example, or a "traffic light" coalition with the Greens and the SPD.
Dismay on the Left
There were long faces at the Left's party: "This is a heavy blow for us," party chair Susanne Hennig-Wellsow said. "We've definitely lost badly." TV channels ARD and ZDF both predict that the Left Party has won only 5% of the vote, and may in fact fail to clear the 5% hurdle required to enter the Bundestag. However, the party could still get in thanks to the three-constituency clause.
Some disappointment for the AfD
Alternative for Germany (AfD) deputy leader Beatrix von Storch (center) appears disappointed. According to initial projections, her far-right party has come in at 11% — slightly less than the 12.6% it got in 2017, when it became the third-largest party in the Bundestag. However, AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla (right) called Sunday's numbers a solid result, though "of course, the losses also hurt."
AfD party protest
Whether or not the AfD is in fact celebrating, the far-right party's election soiree was met with protest. Demonstrators positioned themselves behind the barriers outside the hall where the event is taking place, holding a banner reading "No Party for Fascists."
Delays at voting stations
Berlin managed to add a dash of chaos to all the heightened emotion: Some voters in the capital were still having to queue outside polling stations right up to the last minute. Ballot papers had run out at short notice, and, with many roads closed for the Berlin Marathon, it took some time for fresh ones to arrive. Many voters had to wait about an hour.