Conservatives led by Friedrich Merz projected to win German elections according to exit polls

Germany's conservative party, led by Friedrich Merz, is projected to win the recent elections, with exit polls showing them at 28.5 percent. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained significant support, reaching around 19.5 percent. The outgoing Social Democrats (SPD) are expected to receive about 16 percent, marking their worst result. Merz will need to form a coalition government, likely involving the Greens and possibly the SPD, as he aims to address rising concerns over immigration. The AfD's strong performance follows a series of violent incidents linked to asylum seekers, which have fueled their popularity. Despite this, other parties have pledged to keep the AfD out of power.