Germans vote in national elections as no party expected to secure majority

Germany held national elections on Sunday, with about 60 million eligible voters. Incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz faced opposition leader Friedrich Merz, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, and far-right candidate Alice Weidel. Polls indicated no party was likely to achieve a majority. The election was called early after Scholz's coalition collapsed in November. This marks the fourth time the Bundestag has been dissolved ahead of schedule since World War II. Exit polls and vote counting began immediately after polls closed. Analysts suggest a coalition is likely, possibly involving Merz's conservative bloc and the SPD. The election occurs amid significant shifts in US-Europe relations, influenced by recent geopolitical events.