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The headquarters of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) filled with cheers and applause as the exit polls were revealed and it became clear that the opposition party was set to become the largest group after Sunday’s election.

Younger party members were clapping and chanting at the CDU’s election party in Berlin as the party appeared to have emerged as the strongest force in the next German parliament.

The CDU’s headquarters, the Konrad Adenauer Haus, is packed with party top brass and journalists from around the world. The party had long been the favorites to take the largest share of the vote.

Outside the building, a small group of protesters demonstrated against what they perceive as party leader Friedrich Merz’s hard line on immigration.

Protesters held signs with flames drawn on them, accusing the CDU of possible cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Merz has denied wanting to cooperate with the AfD.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) is expected to have secured 16% of the vote on Sunday, according to exit polls, a huge 9% fall compared to the last election in 2021, and its worst result in modern history.

Still, the SPD would have breathed a sigh of relief as it avoided a complete wipe-out and managed to hang on to third place in the election – some opinion polls ahead of the vote had suggested the party, which came top in 2021, could be competing for the third spot with the Greens.

That did not happen as the Greens ended up fourth with 13.5% of the vote.

Still, Scholz’s future as the party leader remains uncertain – there were rumors even before the election that some in his party wanted Boris Pistorius, the current defense minister, to replace him as the party’s top candidate.

Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), said the party has “never been stronger” as she took to the stage at an election party after exit polls were announced.

“We have never been stronger - we are the second biggest force,” Weidel said, in words that were met by wild cheers from the crowds in attendance at the event in Berlin.

“We are the only party with a double-digit score compared to the past elections,” she continued, adding, “in the next elections we will take over from the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) and be in the first place.” Her words indicate how the party already has its eyes firmly on the next election in 2029.

The mood at the AfD election party was ecstatic as it emerged that the party had almost doubled its support, with people cheering and waving Germany flags.