German voters prepare for pivotal election as CDU/CSU leads polls

German voters will cast their ballots on Sunday in a closely watched election. The conservative CDU/CSU leads with 31%, followed by the far-right AfD at 21%, the Social Democrats at 15%, and the Greens at 13%. A coalition government is expected. Chancellor Olaf Scholz will step down, likely replaced by Friedrich Merz, pending confirmation. The election results may influence discussions on immigration and economic policies, including potential increases in defense spending and tax reforms. The election outcome could take weeks to finalize, with a two-party coalition being the most likely scenario. Despite anticipated reforms, economic growth in Germany may remain challenging this year.