Part 2/9:
Following the elections on February 23, the CDU emerged as the top party, quickly initiating talks with the SPD, the centre-left Social Democratic Party, which secured third place. The two parties sought cooperation despite the CDU ruling out any alliance with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)—leaving them with limited options. Surprisingly, the SPD leveraged its position and managed to secure seven ministerial posts, equal to those of the CDU, while the Christian Social Union (CSU), CDU’s sister party, took three.