Germany’s Social Democrats are under pressure to quickly revamp 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.

BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Olaf Scholz concedes defeat in Germany's national election.

Chancellor Scholz concedes defeat. The SPD conceded defeat, with Scholz calling the result “bitter.” Speaking to his supporters, Scholz said “It’s a bad result and that’

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz won a lackluster victory, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded his center-left Social Democrat party’s worst postwar defeat.

Friedrich Merz and his party won, Elon Musk didn’t seem to move voters, and more lessons from an early German vote with big implications for Europe.