THE right-wing Christian Democrat Union (CDU) led by Friedrich Merz came first in Sunday’s national election in Germany.

The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to become the nation’s second-largest.

The CDU won 208 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag, while the AfD won 152. 

The three parties in the former governing coalition lost seats, with the Social Democratic Party of Germany falling to 120 seats and the Greens to 85. The pro-business Free Democrats, which triggered early elections by pulling out of the coalition, failed to reach the 5 per cent of the vote required to win seats.

The Left party defied pre-poll expectations and won 64 seats. In the capital Berlin, the party won 19 per cent of the vote and 29.4 per cent in Leipzig — in both cases more than any other party — and it won four of 12 Berlin constituencies directly and one of two in Leipzig.

The left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance came in just under the 5 per cent hurdle needed to secure seats.

Other parties say they won’t work with the AfD, which is under observation by the domestic intelligence agency for suspected far-right activity, which the party denies.

But its branches in three eastern states are designated by the state to be “proven right-wing extremist” groups.

Leaders of the jubilant AfD vowed on Sunday to become the country’s main party in the next election. 

Mr Merz said on election night that he hopes to form a government by Easter. He has ruled out a coalition with the AfD.

He said on Sunday night that his top priority is to unify Europe following divisions with the United States, and boost military spending.

He said: “I have no illusions at all about what is happening from America. Take a look at the recent interventions in the German election campaign by Mr Musk” (in favour of the AfD).