Center-right opposition wins German election as far-right party gains ground

Germany's conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz won a national election, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) significantly increased its support. The Social Democrats, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, finished third with their worst result since World War II. The election was held earlier than planned after Scholz's coalition collapsed. Voter discontent was high, with concerns over the economy and migration dominating the campaign. Projections show Merz's Union bloc at 28.5% and AfD at 20.5%, while the Social Democrats received just over 16%. Merz aims to form a coalition government by Easter, but challenges remain. He has ruled out working with AfD, despite their strong showing. Scholz condemned AfD's success, stating it should not be accepted in German politics.