German conservatives lead election as far-right party gains ground in exit poll

The Christian Democratic Union party is projected to win Germany's national election, with 29 percent of the vote, positioning Friedrich Merz to potentially become the next chancellor. The far-right Alternative for Germany party is expected to achieve its best result since World War II, with 19.5 percent of the vote. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats are forecast to place third, receiving 16 percent of the vote.