CDU/CSU leads German election projections with 29% of votes

Early projections from Germany's parliamentary election show the conservative CDU/CSU bloc leading with 29% of the vote, followed by the far-right AfD at 19.5%. The ruling SPD is in third place with 16%. Voter turnout reached 84%, the highest since 1990. The election was called after the collapse of a coalition led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD. CDU candidate Friedrich Merz is now positioned to potentially become the next chancellor. The Left Party is projected to secure 8.5% of the vote, while the Greens are at 13.5%. The AfD has nearly doubled its support compared to the last election. Coalition negotiations are expected to take time.