was - about ”5096 of vote. meanwhile — the far—right alternative for germany (md) is set to become the second biggest it's too early to say who merz will try to govern with, i'm samatha simmonds in london. our other top stories. catholics around the world pray for the pope.

the vatican says the pontiff remains in a critical condition and president zelensky says he would give hello and welcome to berlin. i'm here at the famous brandenburg gate in berlin — and an exit poll from the election has forecast that the conservative opposition led by friedrich merz the poll, for the country's public broadcasters, puts the christian democrats and their bavarian sister party on 29 percent. if confirmed, it would be its best—

significant here in germany and we have never significant here ingermany and �*seen a far—right that tv 7 77 7 77 7 77t7hat7w7ell that well since party performed that well since the end of world war ii. joining me now is peter altmaier, a former a close ally of. what do you make of the results that we are tonight? make of the results that we are toni . ht? make of the results that we are toniaht? , , ., see-"s tenet“? 7' full 7 see-"s tenet“? 7' fu7ll 7c7[e7ar eee�*zg “mg-“f .. ,, fully clear but one eee�*zg “wed-“w w w fully clear but one thing gnt fully clear but dne thing for sure. ggt fglly clear but dne thing for sure. the next german is for sure. the next german chancellor, i cannot see any chancellgr, i can-net see any have other contender would have another chance of being parliament and he parliams pro—western pa rliams pro—western alliance pro—nato, pro—western alliance pro—ukraine. is the ancl are—llicraine. that is the news. unfortunately, ancl are—tlicraine. that is the news. unfortunately, there good news. unfortunately, there are difficult negotiations to

be expected as the next be expected as for the next coalition is and early in the how many morning or tomorrow how—many would be represented in parties would be represented in parliament, �* many of them m 7 §——m _7 §——m e7e77 777t7o7fo77rrf71 27515751; government and unfortunately, germany is running out of time l -= europe is 7 europe is running out of in europe is running out of and we need a government is capable to 77 is capable to act7 is capable to actin that is capable to act in capable to take a �*gaza 7 7 7gaza and 7gaza and allies in position for gaza and allies in the uk and france and other european countries and this is z= has not been something that has not been resolved in the second am shocked, it was not is, i am shocked, it was not totally unexpected but i'm shocked by this and shocked "cry this result and even above 20% and that perhaps even'ehove' sofa; and that never perhaps even'ahove' sofa and that never been possible has never been possible after war since

the second world war since the existence of the german republic and therefore, we have to fight very hard to solve problems and issues which make this right—wing this extremist right—wing party so strong in as so strong in parliament as it has never been before. talking about migration _ has never been before. talking about migration and _ has never been before. talking about migration and the - has never been before. talking about migration and the far- afd,7 some criticise the right afd, some criticise the chancellor, angela merkel for the doors to the far opening the doors to the far right to enter the here right to enter the scene here in germany because she was the when 7when people ghgnggllgr when somersteap'e and chancellor when somersteap'e and is ghanceller when someceweeep'e and is this the arrived and is this partly the ,,, ' ' w w w governments as responsibility as well? there to be a responsibility as well? there - to be a situation - responsibility as well? there . to be a situation for- has to be a situation for parliamentary reasons. germany admitted many refugees 2015 admitted many refugees in 2015 and 2016 and they had no safe

haven elsewhere in europe or in the world nevertheless, the world andnevertheless, reelected angela merkel was reelected three later in 2017 and z—e= t still today is popular amongst german people and we have a 777 7 7prob7lem and it is a different problem and it is a matter of for millions matter of concern for millions of germans and this is the fact that we have seen illegal migration and large—scale over the last three or four years for people arrived without any right to asylum without being an existential and this ; e not resolved by you or by outgoing7 7777777 resolved by the outgoing and it's a matter of concern for citizens utmost concern for citizens right now and if they cannot be resolved, i expect extremist parties to grow =-= 7 that will shake is something that will shake

the political structure even more. what is facing them now is he has a strong 7 strong european european, strong european supporter, looking at the transatlantic alliance, how do you friedrich merz will you think friedrich merz will deal with us. we have seen deal with the us. we have seen donald proposing peace donald trump proposing peace negotiations with russia, donald trump proposing peace negotiatio| that h russia, donald trump proposing peace negotiatio| that concerns . we7 7 we have jd vance about 7 about tearing 7 about tearing the talk about tearing down the firewall between far right in conservatives here. how do the conservatives here. how do you think friedrich will you think friedrici-rmer-a will about that you think friedrici-rmer-a will about that relationship? i go about that relationship? i think have the utmost prierityi far it“?! and it’ ’ opened up discussions pre7sident trump on the with president trump on the basis of our common western as enshrined in nato, values as enshrined in nato, as enshrined in so many bilateral agreements and it is not possible because mr trump would insist on unilateral action to be taken against ukraine and be taken against in the

taken against europeans in the area of trade, for and area of trade, for example and then, he will do everything to achieve a european achieve a joint european standpoint in a joint european position on. i see it as a bit a problem in this week, the of a problem in this week, the week, the french coming week, the french will meet mr trump president will'meet' mir—trump day, the day, president will'meet'mr'trump day, the day, the ene day; the etherrdey; the ~ , ~ prime minister, the british prime minister, the polish president has been in but we should recently but we should first the joint, establish first the joint, common european and a common european position and a common european position and a common that common european position that includes all european members nato and that means uk and of nato and that means uk and other countries not the of nato and that means uk and other cou union. ot the of nato and that means uk and other cou union. it the of nato and that means uk and other cou union. it is the of nato and that means uk and other cou union. it is a the european union. it is a very, very important challenge ahead us and can convince of us and we can convince mr trump but only �*we have trump but only if we have a strong position and if have strong position and if we have one voice on behalf of all

european one voice on behalf of all euro ean �* ., european countries. laces ou no, 0 european countries. bef$ lyougo. 0. us- european countries. bef$ i you go. o - us an- european countries. bef$ i you go, q - us an idea l let you go, 0 give us an idea of next week of what the next week select for friedrich merz and what's the coalition building process you've been 777 91,1}ng be7e7n7throu7gh77it with and you've been through it with chancellor angela merkel, what is like? i chancellor angela merkel, what is like? ., , chancellor angela merkel, what is like? . , ., chancellor angela merkel, what is like?| commissions _ chancellor angela merkel, what is like? commissions since 2005 building commissions since 2005 and i can tell you that is and i can tell you that it is like hell. you have to be sharp —7 enough to negotiate a yet to find compromise to defend find compromise if to defend them amidst party themarnidstyoucown party public but, this grassroot and public but, this is thatis, grassroot and public but, this is that is, a good grassroot and public but, this is in that is, a good grassroot and public but, this is in that is, a g every tradition in germany and every political leader in every future chancellor has to undergo the same procedure and undergo the same proceduce and think it will help friedrich to start his career h chancelor of better icelo . 7 better preared german . 7 .:,:

better prepared and with , e and better prepared and with basis of political good basis of political agreement between coalition agreement between the coalition parties. very good to get your perspective — parties. very good to get your perspective you're _ parties. very good to get your perspective you're i bbc - parties. very good to get your i perspective you're i bbc news perspective you're on bbc news tonight. thank you so much for these elections 7 these elections by 77 aerating” 77 77 garrtmatt 77 77 7a7n7d7lthi7n7k7it7is777777 77 an7d ithink it isa bbc and i think it is a good 7 for thing for people across the world and please, give us a chance to establish and a overnment for �*government for the �* government for the sake of new government for the sake of all of us. is new government for the sake of all of us. , ., ., , ., iii! mm who is at with the afd and jess parker who is with the cdu. friedrich merz wants to move quickly because so many are relying on germany in the world

quickly because so many are re have )n germany in the world quickly because so many are re have a germany in the world quickly because so many are re have a stable any in the world quickly because so many are re have a stable coalition world thatis that is something government that is something merz been saying, government that is something it merz been saying, government that is something it he vierz been saying, government that is something - ii- i been saying. i government that is something - i_en saying. i government that is something || ., , , , in. l isn't it he has been trying to in'ect isn't it he has been trying to inject the — isn't it he has been trying to inject the sense _ isn't it he has been trying to inject the sense of - isn't it he has been trying to inject the sense of energy . a man in a hurry. as urgenscv aman in a hurry. as been reflecting, the can be somewhat 7 and at the moment it different and at the moment it not even clear, is not even clear, unsurprisingly because the results to take a wild to solidify who he might be able to form a coalition with the ts terns a sselitish—with the ' w ' ' ' " been speaking ts tsrn't e sselitish—eith the ' w ' ' ' w been speaking tonight again has been speaking tonight again expressing his preference to do 77d7ea7l77 77 77 7 deal which just 77d7eal7whi7ch7jus7t sh; 7 77d7eal7whi7ch7jus7t she gag; a dealwhichjust sne ether , , ~ ~ ~ ~ while the two other party while the two other parties because the three—way coalition would just be more coatition'would justbe'more terms of the unwieldy in terms of during the negotiations and actually germany itself we governing germany itself and we saw that with the last under chancellor schulz. that is sumethihg 0laf scholz. that is something that friedrich has on his that friedrich merz has on his hands initially and at hands initially and looking at those numbers seeing what those'numbers and'seeing—what deals he can do in kinds of deals he can do in getting people on the table. a lot of people in europe do not

want to wait that really want to wait that long for germany to get a government again they've already 17—5“ 7 7de7aling with what 7 77 77de7aling with what was been dealing with what was a essentially a lame—duck government after 0laf scholz�*s collapse of �*and of z: -= their fears about course, their fears about security and a lot of europgansecurity and a lot of given what donald trump been sayin- re-uardin has been saying regarding ukraine out of united ukraine out of the united and so think a lot of do urgently want to see 22921299 urgently want to see from a 7 and at this stage, government and at this stage, we cannot say for certain what is going to happen if he is forced into some sort of three party coalition and i'll make life more difficult, no doubt about it. . ., about it. listening to the candidate _ about it. listening to the candidate for _ about it. listening to the candidate for the - about it. listening to the candidate for the md - about it. listening to the candidate for the md on | about it. listening to the i candidate for the md on the candidate for the afd on the elephant round. this happens where all the chancellor candidates sit �* after candidates sit together after the come in and taking the results come in and taking over our they cannot over our positions. they cannot these positions

implement these positions without us and reaching her hand—out but clearly, they will finda find a �*there. of afd sata w m headquarters of afd sata is being cheated of a germany is being cheated of a prosperous future with this prosperous future '.- .-'s in prosperous future with this in coalition government party in coalition government - they— party in coalition government they really a democratic and they really is a democratic deficit— and they really is a democratic deficit the that is deficit in the party that is comes— deficit in the party that is comes safe and he and --ettin 20% of the separate and getting 20% of the vote - but _ separate and getting 20% of the vote but sideline vote share but sideline did not heard, — vote share but sideline did not heard, that is from the stager tonight— heard, that is from the stager tonight and know is been tonight and we know is it been talking — tonight and we know is it been talking about that the other will hut parties simply will not entertain the of the afd in power _7 in power with them i in power with them but being in power with them but the message that i am getting the ntsssaas that ! er" aettwa deceased.” 'ust ths ntsssaas that ! er" aettwa deceased.” 'ust listenin- the ntessaae that ! at" aettwa deceased.” 'ust listenin- to tonight just listening to people is that this party feels it is captured the zeitgeist and — it is captured the zeitgeist and that it sort not only and that it is sort of not only captured _

and that it is sort of not only captured mood but it captured a mood but it is shaping _ captured a mood but it is shaping a mood both here in - and _ shaping a mood both here in and internationally. 0f germany and internationally. of course — germany and internationally. of course i do _ germany and internationally. of course do not know why course we do not know why exactly _ course we do not know why exactly the millions people exactly the millions of people who voted for the made the who voted for the afd made the decision, — who voted for the afd made the decision, is it a totemic issue for this— decision, is it a totemic issue for this party but also it be economic issues and e floculd be onehin- 7 floculd be onehin- or 7 that could be one thing or maybe _ that could be one thing or maybe it is the maybe it is . ”i. the maybe it is theettrttrde maybe it is the attitude the �*in ukraine maybe it is . . ml. c. -the in ukraine and afd don't want .- ...== . to afd don't wanttesuppoet -m afd don't want .. .. . . - to but they ukraine to continuefdutthey - m— ukraine to continue. but they pointing the idea that are pointing at the idea that mittions— are pointing at the idea that millions of people have voted for them _ millions of people have voted for them and they say looking the for them and they say looking i the us— for them and they say looking the us the at the us administration, the - around _ at the us administration, the around president trump, peopleearound preside nt trumh i w— peopleearound preside nt trumh i m— peopleearound president trump. vance, the vice president jd vance, the vice president and — jd vance, the vice president and elon— jd vance, the vice president and elon musk were endorse this and elonjviusk were endorseibisc -w_ and elonjviusk were endorseibisc - saying this and elon musk were endorse this saying this is proof that party saying this is proof that we i not— party saying this is proof that we not extremist, we are we a remot eatremistrweare - racist. we a remot eatremistrweare - m— we aremot extremist, we are racist. we are not a not rahshmeaeenola _—lentity. we not racist. we are not a entity. we are not new _ entity. we are a dangerous entity. we are a party— dangerous entity. we are a party on _ dangerous entity. we are a party on the move and what we say chimes of millions of people _ say chimes of millions of people but their say people but their opponents say they dangerous, they are they are dangerous, they are divisive — they are dangerous, they are divisive and they cannot be trusted _ divisive and they cannot be trusted anywhere near power.

divisive and they cannot be trusted anywi willnear power. divisive and they cannot be trusted anywi will be r power. divisive and they cannot be trusted anywi will be happyrr. divisive and they cannot be trusted anywi will be happy to conservatives will be happy to see message that donald was 77 posted on truth social reading out, looks and reading it out, it looks like the conservative party in germany has the big 77 highlyahticipated 7 7 'h'igay'gntiagara altar}; and highly anticipated election much like the us, the people of germany got of the 7 7 agenda, especially 77777 7energy energy and 7 7 energy and em7igration 7 energy and em7igration that 7 on energy and emigration that has prevailed so many has prevailed for so many years, this is a great day for germany and for the united states and it goes on to praise states and it goeseon to praise �* as well and then states and it goeseon to praise �*as well and then says himself as well and then says congratulations to all. but they'll be a welcome message to they'll be a welcome message to the cdu as we were just discussing. friedrich merz does this relationship is very see this relationship is very”, ., ,. , ,. . ., . common ground 7 donald 7 7 7 donald trump. 7 7 7 7_ a tru.—7- 773777 77 7 0laf scholz, " olaf scholz, wru chancellor 0laf scholz, will said i would friedrich merz makes no sense give up on the transatlantic relationship" ' " " " because they are now just because they are now dealing with a man who known

dealing with a man who is known in diplomatic circles to be somewhat unpredictable on his platform policy pronouncements and they absolutely do to and they absolutely do want to have that relationship and of course it is keen with the constructs of nato in the alliance, i think economically as well. i think that will be welcomed by merz - merz and she will friedrich merz and she will want to a relationship want to build a relationship *w*** the want to build a relationship” " ” ' ” ” " ' ' the us president donald with the us president donald— ,, w e w as ,. ”7 but as nick was saying, trump but as nick was saying, have been interesting 7 gang moments during thisecamepaign elon musk, a close ally of with elon musk, a close ally of donald notjust donald trump notjust endorsing but also hosting sue-“9's; l�*:'s- l~ster= w . —— online discussion on the an online discussion on the acts, and platform acts, and intervention that people have been very deeply critical of. it will be a lot of balancing for friedrich merz to do if he is the next chancellor in terms of the nest uhancetle’r'in�*te’rm’s’et’ ” that relationship and the nest uhancetle’r'in�*te’rm’s’et’ ” trying rat relationship and the nest uhancetle’r'in�*te’rm’s’et’ ” trying to relationship and the nest uhancetle’r'in�*te’rm’s’et’ ” trying to relat up ;hip and also, trying to build up germany's ability to be more

present within europe and more within the world. present within the world. bolster its abilities of security and defence and that. were talking about earlier, 7 degree, 7 77 7 7 77degr7e7e,7boiling seeming to some degree, boiling down to what money germany is prepared to put into those areas and at the moment, that is not exactly clear. and areas and at the moment, that is not exactly clear.— is not exactly clear. and we have not — is not exactly clear. and we have not - a _ is not exactly clear. and we have not - a lot about| is not exactly clear. and we i have not - a lot about the in of this 77 7 if} 777o7f7this77an7d7777 7 77 77 7 if} o7f7this7an7d7th7e7 7 77 voters in all of this and the issues important to them in the selection but clearly, migration and the economy were 7 important 7 7 important to 7 7 important to voters 7 7 important to voters and very important to voters and these are two issues that they saw the fa delivering. whether this the saw the fa delivering. whether this i the high _ saw the fa delivering. whether this i the high point _ saw the fa delivering. whether this i the high point for - saw the fa delivering. whether this i the high point for the - = -:= = or the yes to afd or the years to come, the support— afd or the years to come, the support grow even more but han-s hans on 7hn-s on those two . hngs on those two key- it hangs on those two key issues _ it hangs on those two key issues but the economy and migration. we know that particularly in the east of germany, less prosperous germany, the less prosperous former— germany, the less prosperous former communist part of the country. _ former communist part of the country, there was a lot of support— country, there was a lot of support but there were support but also, there were pockets _ support but also, there were pockets of support to the west

support but also, there were pocke country port to the west support but also, there were pocke country port in the west of the countryanddniities -m of the countryanddniities -w_ of the country and in cities they are doing pretty where they are doing pretty badly— where they are doing pretty badly economically and also they— badly economically and also they have been large numbers of 1619 00:17:08,2