German voters cast their ballots in Sunday’s election, with opposition leader Friedrich Merz claiming victory and Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceding defeat. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is heading for the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II.

Germany's conservatives won the national election on Sunday, while the far-right Alternative for Germany came in second, its best ever result.

Millions voted for a new federal government after the country's three-party coalition fell apart at the end of last year.

Germany’s center-right parties are on course to return to power after four years in opposition, while a far-right party that has garnered praise from top Trump administration figures doubled its vote for an unprecedented second-place finish in Sunday’s national elections,

Polls opened across Germany on Sunday in an election that could shape Europe’s response to the new Trump administration, the Russia-Ukraine war and security across the continent.

Alternative for Germany appears to be headed for the strongest showing by a far-right party since World War II in Sunday’s national election and is fielding its first candidate to lead the country.

German voters cast their ballots in Sunday’s election, and early exit poll data shows opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s conservatives in the lead. It also indicates that Alternative for Germany is heading for the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II.

Germany's mainstream parties lost support while the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) gained ground in a poll published ahead of Sunday's election, underscoring concerns about the AfD's potential influence in the next parliament.