Germany’s centre-right CDU and CSU parties have won the federal elections with about 28.5 to 29 per cent of the vote according to exit polls, paving the way for CDU leader Friedrich Merz to become chancellor at a time of economic and political upheaval in Europe’s largest democracy.

With Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU union coming on top of the election, coalition talks will come next. The CDU's Friedrich Merz will start talks to form a new coaltion on Monday Merz reiterated his stance on not cooperating with the far-right AfD party,

After tens of millions of Germans cast their ballots in today's federal election — or some 84% of the country's nearly 60 million eligible voters — the latest exit polls suggest that the CDU/CSU are in the lead to govern with around 28.