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 citizens aged 18 and up can vote. At least 59.2 million people in the nation of 84 million are eligible, about 2.3 million of them for the first time. Polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Four candidates are bidding to be Germany’s next leader in Sunday’s election.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz’s conservatives were on course for a lacklustre victory in a national election on Sunday. Meanwhile Alternative for Germany nearly doubled its support, the strongest showing for a far-right party since the Second World War, projections showed.

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