Germany braces for key elections as conservatives lead polls

German elections are set for Sunday, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition in November. The conservative CDU-CSU alliance, led by Friedrich Merz, leads in polls at around 30%, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) follows at 20%. The elections come amid rising tensions over immigration and security, highlighted by recent violent incidents linked to migrants. The CDU's Merz aims to address these issues, while Scholz emphasizes support for Ukraine and free speech. Merz may need to form a coalition with other parties, as he has ruled out partnering with the AfD. The SPD and Greens are potential allies, but negotiations could be challenging after a contentious campaign.