Here’s what to know about Germany’s election today

Germany heads to the polls today at a moment of deep uncertainty. A struggling economy, an immigration debate, and shifting global alliances have thrown the country into a snap election months ahead of schedule. At the center of it all is Friedrich Merz, the conservative frontrunner expected to replace Chancellor Olaf Scholz. But with the far-right AfD gaining ground and coalition-building set to be a challenge, Germany’s next government will face tough questions—not just about domestic policy, but about its place in an increasingly unpredictable world.