The conservative opposition won the German election on Sunday, putting Friedrich Merz on track to become the next chancellor, according to projections. 

The centre-right Christian Democratic Union took the majority in Sunday's election and Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded defeat.

CDU was the favorite, based on the most recent polling data, as millions of German voters went to the polls on Sunday.

Economic issues and immigration appeared to be the top issues for German voters, according to the latest reports ahead of the election. 

Photos published by CNN showed many German voters at the polls in festive carnival outfits since the election is taking place on the same day as a series of "regional and municipal carnival celebrations."