In the recent German national election, the opposition conservative alliance, headed by Friedrich Merz, triumphed, setting Merz on the path to becoming the next chancellor.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) attained its best performance to date, finishing in second place.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) faced a notable defeat, recording its poorest results since the postwar period. Key responses from German political figures include: - Friedrich Merz, CDU Leader and Chancellor Candidate: Voiced his intention to start working immediately after the victory. - Olaf Scholz, SPD Chancellor: Recognized the harsh outcome for the SPD and declared he would not be part of a CDU-led federal government. - Alice Weidel, AfD Party Leader: Expressed willingness to engage in coalition discussions with the CDU and stated that the AfD has positioned itself as a people's party. - Christian Lindner, FDP Leader: Suggested he would exit politics if the FDP were to leave the Bundestag, expressing thanks for his political journey. - Boris Pistorius, SPD Member and Defence Minister: Characterized the election result as devastating and catastrophic. - Robert Habeck, Greens Chancellor Candidate: Stressed the urgent need for Germany to efficiently and successfully establish a new government. - Alexander Dobrindt, CSU Chairman: Voiced doubt regarding the possibility of forming a coalition with the Greens, questioning any policy changes within the party. These responses illustrate the diverse viewpoints of Germany's political leaders in reaction to the election results.