Early projections say Germany’s conservative bloc has secured some 29% of the votes, emerging as the largest party ahead of the far-right AfD with around 19.5%.
- Polls opened at 8 a.m. (0700 UTC) and closed at 6 p.m.
- Latest projections put CDU/CSU at 29%, the right-wing populist AfD at around 19.5%, and Chancellor Scholz’s SPD at 16%
- The AfD is shunned by other parties and expected to be left out of government
- The snap election was triggered by the collapse of a three-way coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ center-left SPD
- CDU candidate Friedrich Merz could become the next chancellor and choose to form a coalition with the SPD and/or the environmentalist Greens DW