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

Trump hailed the result as a "GREAT DAY FOR GERMANY," while the far-right AfD party that Elon Musk has championed made historic gains.

Exit polls also indicate that Alternative for Germany ... It compares with 36.5% at the same time in the 2021 election, but many people cast absentee ballots in that vote, which took place ...

Exit polls show opposition leader Friedrich ... at 19.5-20% — roughly double its result from 2021. They put support for Scholz's Social Democrats at 16-16.5%, far lower than in the last election.

Early exit polls cited by multiple outlets project the ... and previously lost two votes to lead the CDU in 2018 and 2021. He holds more conservative views than Merkel and represents a further ...