Conservatives Lead in German Elections, but Coalition-Forming Will Be Difficult

February 25, 2025--Written by Paul Wiseman for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--As generally expected, a combination of two years of a shrinking economy, higher energy prices and immigration issues pushed Germany's conservatives to the top of Sunday's snap elections. However, with only 208 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag, the center-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) leader Friederich Merz will need to get others on board to form a new government.