Germany’s Social Democrats are taking steps to revamp their leadership as a role in a new government beckons, even though Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party slumped to its worst election result since World War II.

With 16.4% of the vote, down nine points from 2021, the SPD recorded its worst score since the post-war period. It is likely to join a coalition in the next government, led by the Christian Democrat Friedrich Merz.

The German elections saw Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU taking the lead with 29% of the vote, while the AfD improved its standing but remains isolated. Chan