The Latest Breaking News from Friedrich Merz

In the run-up to Sunday’s crucial election, the Guardian took a long journey through Europe’s heartland to find out what voters think

With the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, residents in Munich tell Tom Watling of the horror of suffering the third suspected terror attack of the country’s election cycle

Editorial: Sunday’s poll is a turning point for the EU’s most powerful member state, as it comes to terms with Trump 2.0

Rights groups say migrants and refugees live in an atmosphere of fear amid a far-right resurgence.

This mechanism, which has been blamed for a lack of investment, has emerged as an important election issue.

Rule dating from 2009 that limits borrowing looks vulnerable as main political parties promise to revive stalled economy

By centring the discourse on immigration, MPs have handed support to the far right – and hidden a ticking economic timebomb from voters, says Paul Taylor of the European Policy Centre

German voters prepare for a crucial election with global implications. Four contenders vie for chancellorship and potential coalition government formation.

If the country holds out against the Trump-assisted AfD, it shows rightwing populism can be resisted in Europe’s heartland, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

On Sunday, Germans will vote in an election that could shape both their country’s future and that of the European Union. While the hard-right AfD gains support, centrist and left-leaning parties struggle to tackle key issues such as immigration, inflation, and whether to back US President Donald Trump’s efforts to…

Heidi Reichinnek’s speech went viral on TikTok – and sparked a surge of support from voters who reject the mainstream’s xenophobia