Polls have opened in Germany's parliamentary election that was brought forward by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz' ruling coalition in November. The conservative CDU/CSU leads in opinion polls.

Opinion polls have suggested a win in the German election Sunday for the opposition conservatives under Friedrich Merz, and a defeat for Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Social Democrats. The far-right Alternative for Germany, which is shunned by other parties, looks set to become the main opposition force in the parliament.

The contenders in Germany’s election are making their final appeals to voters. The opposition leader and front-runner vowed Saturday to revive the stagnant economy and defend Europe’s interests in the face of a confrontational U.

The German election campaign draws to a close on Saturday with parties hoping to attract undecided voters in a flurry of final events, as conservative leader Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU bloc remains far ahead in the polls.

Germans vote in a national election on Sunday which is expected to see Friedrich Merz's conservatives regain power and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) score its best ever result as Europe's ailing economic powerhouse lurches rightwards.

From immigration and Germany's ailing economy to cannabis and gender politics, here is a round-up of the burning issues on voters' minds in the run-up to Sunday's election.