The Christian Democratic Union and its allied Christian Social Union secured the largest share of votes in the German federal election, exit polls show.

German voters cast their ballots in Sunday’s election, with opposition leader Friedrich Merz claiming victory and Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceding defeat. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is heading for the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II.

German voters go to the polls Sunday to elect a parliament that will determine who runs the country for the next four years.

The polls are open across Germany in an election that could shape Europe’s response to the new Trump administration, the Russia-Ukraine war and security across the continent. The race pits