Merz says he wants to form a new government as soon as possible, noting the world “won’t wait for us” to have lengthy coalition talks. The far-right Alternative for Germany is tracking second and looks on course to become the main opposition force in the parliament.

A series of attacks helped fuel debate about immigration in the weeks before German voters cast their ballots for a new Parliament.

Outgoing German chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded the election and decried the historic gains of the far-right conservative party, AfD. Early exit polls show AfD is headed for second place, while opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s conservatives are in the lead and Scholz’s party fell to third.