Germans vote in national election as rightward shift looms

Germans are voting in a national election today, with expectations of a shift to the right. The CDU/CSU bloc, led by Friedrich Merz, has been leading in polls but may struggle to secure a majority due to a fragmented political landscape. Coalition negotiations are anticipated to be challenging, particularly regarding migration and the far-right AfD party. This situation may leave Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a caretaker position for an extended period, potentially delaying important economic policies. Public sentiment has changed significantly, with many Germans feeling more pessimistic about their living standards than since the 2008 financial crisis. Attitudes towards migration have also hardened since the "Refugees Welcome" approach during the 2015 migrant crisis.