Far-Right AfD Surpasses SPD with 16.5% in Historic German EU Election Result

Jun 9, 2024, 07:05 PM

In a historic outcome, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 16.5% of the vote in the European Parliament elections, surpassing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), which fell to 14%. This marks the SPD's worst-ever result in these elections. According to exit polls, the conservative CDU/CSU alliance retained the top spot with 23.5%. The ruling traffic light coalition, comprising the SPD, Greens, and FDP, suffered a significant defeat, with the Greens obtaining 12% of the vote. Scholz's coalition dropped from 42% to 31%. This election result highlights a significant shift in German politics, with the AfD becoming the second-largest party in the country and the most popular party in Eastern Germany. The AfD is projected to secure 16 seats in the European Parliament.