German Elections 2017: Angela Merkel Wins Fourth Term as Chancellor

Photo Source: @CDU

Angela Merkel is set to remain Germany’s chancellor for a fourth consecutive term, as her center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and its Bavarian sister-party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), have won 33 percent of the vote in the German elections according to an official preliminary result.

“Solidarity in a democratic Europe is today more important and necessary than ever,” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tweeted on Sunday evening to congratulate Merkel. “All of us, who believe in Europe have an obligation, despite our differences, to work together in order to deepen and broaden the European values,” he added.

While Merkel’s alliance has remained the largest party in Germany, the share of CDU is down by 8.5 points compared to the 2013 elections, hitting its lowest level since 1949, Reuters reports.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) finished third and will enter parliament for the first time with a 12.6 percent of the vote.

The share of the Social Democrats (SPD) is at 20.5 percent, while its leader Martin Schulz announced he would not renew the grand coalition with Merkel.

The Free Democratic Party (FDP) is fourth with 10.7 percent, followed by the Left Party with 9.2 percent and the Greens with 8.9 percent.

With the possibility of an alliance with the SPD rejected, Merkel’s options are narrow. The most likely scenario is of the so-called “Jamaica” coalition (as the three parties’ colors are those of the Jamaica national flag) and includes the black CDU/CSU, the yellow Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens.