Negotiators from German election winner Friedrich Merz’s conservative bloc and the center-left Social Democrats have started exploratory talks on a possible coalition government.

Germany's conservatives led by Friedrich Merz won the elections, securing over 28% of the vote, while the far-right AfD gained over 20%. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD suffered a historic low with 16%.

Germany‘s conservative opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, won the national election on Sunday, but the outcome was far from resounding. The projected results indicated that his Union bloc garnered around 28.

Friedrich Merz, who was forced out of politics about a decade ago, is all set to replace Olaf Scholz as next German Chancellor.

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz, the presumptive next chancellor, has won his constituency in Sunday's parliamentary election, while a number of political heavyweights suffered humiliating defeats.