German conservatives lead in snap election exit polls as largest party

Exit polls from Germany's snap elections indicate that the center-right CDU/CSU bloc has secured 29% of the vote, making it the largest party. The far-right AfD follows with 19.5%, while the center-left Social Democrats received 16%. The election results mean CDU/CSU candidate Friedrich Merz is now a leading contender to become the next chancellor, succeeding Olaf Scholz. However, forming a governing coalition could take weeks or months. Germany's electoral system requires parties to form coalitions to govern. The president will present a chancellor candidate from the leading coalition party to the Bundestag for election once a coalition is established.