German Election: Scholz’s SPD narrowly wins, provisional count shows

According to the provisional count, Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) won the federal election by a narrow margin, Reuters reports.

With this, the center-left SPD has a ‘clear mandate’ to lead a government for the first time since 2005, bringing an end to 16 years of conservative-led rule under Angela Merkel.

Additional details

“Conservative CDU/CSU bloc under Armin Laschet also vows to seek coalition.”

“The Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats to form a majority.”

“Chancellor Angela Merkel is not seeking a fifth term.”

But, until a new chancellor is sworn in, Merkel will continue to run the government in a caretaker capacity with her current cabinet. 

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• German Social Democrats (SPD) in pole position to lead