German election LIVE: Voting underway across country as voters make feelings clear over economy and migration

Voting is now underway across Germany as people cast their vote following an election campaign driven by the nation’s stumbling economy and persistent deliberation on migration.

Polls expect conservative leader Friedrich Merz to become their next Chancellor as Europe and America closely monitor the vote.

He has insisted that he would make no deal with the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) – a party which has been bolstered by the likes of Elon Musk and US Vice President JD Vance.

Consequently, Merz’s Christian Democrats will be forced to build an alliance with another party, which is expected to be Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats.

The AfD is believed to become the second largest political party – and is even expected to overtake Scholz’s left party – in what is expected to be its most successful election result to date.

A fifth (20 per cent) of the German electorate remains undecided ahead of the election, according to national polls, while around 60 million Germans are eligible to vote.

“I’m completely disappointed in politics, so maybe an alternative would be better,” retired Berlin bookkeeper Ludmila Ballhorn told Reuters, citing the soaring cost-of-living crisis.

The polls will close at 6pm (5pm UK time) as an early indication of the outcome likely to be clear throughout the evening.

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Polls open as Germans cast their vote in much-anticipated national election

The polls have opened in Germany for almost 60 million people to cast their vote following an intense election campaign across Merz’s Christian Democrats, Scholz’s Social Democrats and the AfD.

Polls will close at 6pm UK time.