High turnout reported in early voting for German elections

Early voting in Germany shows high turnout ahead of the elections. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its allies lead in polls, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is expected to gain support. Friedrich Merz, CDU leader, aims to boost the economy but faces challenges due to his far-right migration stance. Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats (SPD) has struggled with rising energy costs and has stated he will step back if the SPD does not win. Other candidates include Robert Habeck from the Greens, who has faced criticism over energy policies, and Alice Weidel from the AfD, who has shifted towards more radical positions. Christian Lindner of the Free Democrats (FDP) was recently removed as finance minister, leading to early elections.