Hélène Kohl, edited by Manon Fossat 6:48 a.m., September 27, 2021

According to the first estimates of the federal elections in Germany, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) came in first on Sunday with 25.7% of the vote.

It is closely followed by the CDU, the conservative party, with 24.1% of the vote.

Tight results, which keep the two candidates Olaf Scholz and Armin Laschet in a pocket square.

The Social Democratic Party won the parliamentary elections in Germany marking the end of the Merkel era with 25.7% of the vote, slightly ahead of the Conservatives, according to a provisional official tally announced early Monday morning by the committee federal election.

The conservative CDU-CSU camp won 24.1% of the vote, the worst result in its history, while the Greens came third with 14.8% followed by the liberal FDP party with 11.5%. 

>> Find the morning show of the day in replay and podcast here

After the ballot box battle, another began on Monday: that of negotiations with the other parties.

Because the last time Germany had such a close score was in 2005, when Angela Merkel became Chancellor.

Throughout election night, Gerhard Schröder then claimed victory.

But sixteen years later, the balance of power is reversed.

A disputed victory

However, we must remain cautious.

As expected during the campaign, everything will play out during the coalition negotiations that will open in the coming days.

Two majorities seem possible, in both cases with the Liberals and the Greens, who seem quite ready to work together.

Either with Olaf Scholz as chancellor, or with Armin Laschet.

This is the point that will have to be decided.

READ ALSO

- Federal elections in Germany: why Merkel did not want to engage in the campaign so much

The vote of the Germans is moreover entirely faithful to the general atmosphere of the campaign.

In recent weeks, there has been a feeling of gratitude in the country for Angela Merkel's work and the population has sought continuity, thus voting in the center.

However, the latter also wants a boost to modernize the country and this is the reason why it gave a mandate to the Liberals and the Greens.

Germany therefore voted for change ... but in continuity.