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.

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.