Conservatives lead in German elections as far-right party gains ground

Germany's conservative party, led by Friedrich Merz, won the recent elections, with exit polls showing them at 28.5%. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made significant gains, nearly doubling their support to 19.5%. The Social Democrats, led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, fell to around 16%, marking their worst performance. Merz now faces the task of forming a coalition government, likely needing support from smaller parties like the Greens and Free Democrats. The AfD's rise is attributed to public concerns over immigration and security, following several violent incidents. Despite their success, all other parties have pledged to keep the AfD out of power.