CDU/CSU is the clear winner

According to the preliminary official results, the union of CDU and CSU won 41.5% of the poll and was therefore able to significantly increase its share of the votes compared to the 2009 elections. In all probability Angela Merkel will remain Federal Chancellor, although she will not be able to continue the existing governing coalition with the Free Democratic Party (FDP): the FDP with leading candidate Rainer Brüderle lost almost 10% of the vote compared to the 2009 Bundestag elections and eventually gained only 4.8% of the poll. It therefore failed to cross the 5% threshold and will not be represented in the next German parliament.

The Union will hold 311 out of the 630 seats in the new Bundestag and therefore only just missed gaining an absolute majority. The CDU and CSU led by Angela Merkel will thus have to seek a new coalition partner. A so-called grand coalition with the SPD is possible. The Social Democratic Party of Germany with its chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrück was able to make slight gains. It received 25.7% of the vote. It did not win enough support for its favoured alliance with the Greens; the Greens did less well than four years ago and gained 8.4% of the vote.

The Left Party achieved 8.6%. The result of the eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) was awaited with interest. The party took part in Bundestag elections for the first time and won 4.7% of the votes, which meant it fell just short of entering parliament. The Pirate Party, on the other hand, clearly failed to pass the 5% hurdle with a poll of only 2.2%. As a result, only four parties are represented in the Bundestag.

The turnout was 71.5%. This represents a slight increase compared to the 2009 Bundestag elections, when 70.8% of the electorate went to the polling stations.