German voters cast their ballots in Sunday’s election, with opposition leader Friedrich Merz claiming victory. Exit polls also indicate that Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is heading for the strongest showing for a far-right party since World War II.

Germany has elected Friedrich Merz, a candidate for the country’s conservative Christian Democrats Union party, as its next Chancellor in a squeak-out victory, beating the far-right AfD party in an election that saw the highest voter turnout in decades.

Exit polls show the center-right Christian Democratic Union party leading, with the AfD party heading towards the strongest showing of the far-right since World War II.