The conservative centre-right Bavarian Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has won a major victory in Germany’s national election, with a clear lead according to official results with all constituencies counted.

The victory paves the way for the bloc’s leader, Friedrich Merz, to become Germany’s next chancellor, according to the federal election watchdog.

In second place was the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which made a remarkable surge, almost doubling its support compared to the 2021 election, while the Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by outgoing chancellor Olaf Schulz, suffered an expected defeat, dropping to third place.