Projections Put German Social Democrats Ahead of Conservatives in Vote to Decide Merkel Successor

Both groups believe they could lead the next government

Social Democratic Party (SPD) supporters react after first exit polls for the general elections in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 26, 2021. Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

BERLIN—Germany’s Social Democrats narrowly won Sunday’s national election, projected results showed, and claimed a “clear mandate” to lead a government for the first time since 2005 and to end 16 years of conservative-led rule under Angela Merkel.

The center-left Social Democrats (SPD) were on track for 26.0 percent of the vote, ahead of 24.5 percent for Merkel’s CDU/CSU conservative bloc, projections for broadcaster ZDF showed, but both groups believed they could lead the next government.