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.

CDU's Friedrich Merz has claimed victory while SPD's Olaf Scholz has regretted the "bitter" election result. The German electoral authority confirmed the CDU's win in preliminary results, followed by the far-right AfD.

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) bloc, has emerged victorious in the national elections in Germany. The CDU/CSU won 28.8% of the vote, estimates from public broadcaster ARD showed. The victory marks a major shift in Germany's political landscape.