German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has conceded defeat as the CDU/CSU secures victory in Germanys national election. The right-wing AfD made history by finishing second with 20.4% of the vote, marking its strongest national result ever.

With 28.6% of the vote, the CDU/CSU came out on top, ahead of the AfD, with 20.8% of the vote. CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who has ruled out any alliance with the far right, will likely be able to avoid having to form a three-party coalition.

Germany's conservatives won the country's snap elections, but many in the party are disappointed at its overall showing. The SPD fared even worse, plummeting to the worst result in its modern history.

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.

Germany's conservatives won the national election on Sunday, while the far-right Alternative for Germany came in second, its best ever result.