German conservatives win national election, Friedrich Merz set to become chancellor

The Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) is projected to win the national election, positioning Friedrich Merz as the likely new chancellor. The CDU/Christian Social Union bloc, previously in opposition, secured under 30% of the vote and will need to form a coalition. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved its best result, coming in second with 19.8%. The Social Democrats (SPD) fell to their lowest post-war result at 16.4%. Coalition negotiations are expected to be complex, as mainstream parties have ruled out working with the AfD. Merz, lacking government experience, aims to provide stronger leadership than outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He has expressed intentions to restore Germany's role in Europe and address migration issues, amid rising public concern over immigration and economic challenges.