https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/190527092905-01-salvini-farage-le-pen-split-super-tease.jpg
Robert Habeck (L), co-leader of the German Greens Party, speak after they became Germany’s second strongest party in Germany’s European elections.
Sean Gallup
Voter turnout in Germany was significantly higher than in the previous European election, reaching 61.4% compared to 48.1% during the 2014 ballot, according to preliminary results shared by the German government.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), suffered sharp swings away as voters turned towards the Greens — which clinched second place.
According to Monday’s preliminary results, CDU came in top with 22.6%, a drop from the 30% it gained in 2014.
The Greens saw their support rise to 20.5% from 10.7%, while the SDP fell to 15.8% from 27.3% in 2014.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party also made gains with 11% compared to 7.1% in the last vote.
The final results in Germany will be presented later on Monday.