Germany's opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday with 28.5% of the vote, putting leader Friedrich Merz on track to be the next chancellor while the far-right AFD - Alternative for Germany came in second with 20%, its best ever result, exit polls showed.

Current leader, Olaf Schulz's party suffers a humiliating defeat: only 16% according to the polls.

Merz, 69, has no previous government experience but has promised to provide greater leadership than Scholz and to liaise more with key allies, restoring Germany to the heart of Europe.