The conservative CDU/CSU party has won the parliamentary elections in Germany. The leader of the formation, Friedrich Merz, is the main candidate for chancellor. During the campaign, the future head of the German government expressed support for closing the borders.

What is Germany's 'debt brake?' In Germany, the federal government and the 16 states (Länder) are obliged to balance their budgets and are practically prohibited from taking out extra loans. No other G7 country has such strict limits on new borrowing.

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.