The rates from the first exit polls

The polls in Germany were closed at 7 pm, Greek time. All eyes are now on Berlin and the final outcome of the German elections.

Based on early exit polls that were released a few minutes after the polls closed, it seems a clear lead for the Christian Democrats and the sister party of Christian Social Union, led by Merkel.

According to the results given by ARD, Christian Democrats and Christian Social Union (CDU / CSU) receive 42%, Social Democrats (SPD) 26%, Free Democrats (FDP) 4.7%, Greens (Grune) 8%, Left (Linke) 8,5 % and the AfD europhobic party 4.9.

According to the ZDF exit polls, CDU / CSU receives 42,5%, SPD 26,5%, FDP 4,55, AfD 4,8%, Greens 8% and Linke 8,5%.

According to the initial estimates CDU / CSU receives 302 seats, SPD 189, Left 60 and Greens 57 seats. Philipp Roesler’s FPD and the AfD europhobic party do not seem to manage to enter the German Lower House. The participation reached 73%.

Infratest-dimap however, explains that the differences between the parties are not yet safe to draw conclusions from.

The question now is whether the CDU / CSU can form a coalition with the SPD or the Greens. In Germany, where government coalitions are the norm, negotiations usually last 6-8 weeks. Then the Bundestag - the German Lower House- will meet for the first time to elect a new government.

Based on the rates so far, the AfD europhobic party received the most votes from the Left and the Free Democrats. The hard-left Democratic Party of Germany (Die Linke) is turning out to be the third largest party in the German Lower House.