Friedrich Merz, a conservative rival of Angela Merkel, is on track to become the next chancellor, though the far-right AfD is expected to make historic gains.

At the heart of the election is the economy, which has been experiencing a downturn. The ruling coalition, comprising the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP),

Three trends, each a source of grave concern for Germans, form the backdrop to Sunday’s Bundestag elections: an uncertain, even threatening international outlook; a tense, divided domestic political scene; and an economy that, while strong in many respects, is stuck in the doldrums.