Sunday’s election comes as Germany and the rest of Europe grapple with the new Trump administration, the Russia-Ukraine war and security across the continent. Letters can be opened starting at 3 p.m.

German voters are heading to the polls to elect a new government, with Friedrich Merz and his CDU leading. Key issues include the economy, immigration, and security.

German citizens aged 18 and up can vote. At least 59.2 million people in the nation of 84 million are eligible, about 2.3 million of them for the first time. Polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Four candidates are bidding to be Germany’s next leader in Sunday’s election.

Polls have opened in Germany's parliamentary election that was brought forward by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz' ruling coalition in November. Polls opened at 8 a.m. and are set to close at 6 p.

Germans take to the polls in a snap national election following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government late last year. Scholz’s SPD has dropped into thir