Conservative leader Merz set to win Germany's crucial election: Exit polls

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU alliance appeared headed for victory in Germany's general election on Sunday, though the party fell short of the absolute majority required to govern alone.

According to exit polls released by public broadcaster ARD, the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) were projected to win 29% of the votes, up from 24% in the previous federal election in 2021.

Merz's main rival, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD), faced a historic defeat in the elections, projected to receive 16%—the lowest vote share for the center-left party since 1949.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was set to score its best-ever result in a federal election, polling at 19.5%. Having almost doubled its vote share compared to the previous election, it has become the second-most powerful political force in the country.