CDU leads in German election exit polls as far-right support rises

Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is projected to win Germany's national election, with exit polls showing the party receiving at least 28.5% of the votes. This marks a significant lead over the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is at around 16%. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has also seen a rise, doubling its support to approximately 19.5%. Despite this, all other parties have pledged to keep the AfD out of power. Merz will need to form a coalition government, likely involving negotiations with other parties, including the Greens. The process may take time, as the SPD's poor performance complicates potential alliances.