Germany's conservatives are celebrating after the country's snap election. 

Friedrich Merz is most likely to become the country's next chancellor. 

His centre-right Christian Democratic Union has topped votes at just under 29%, with far-right Alternative for Germany, AFD, inching more than 20%. 

Merz must now form a coalition, but has ruled out working with AFD. 

Director of Berlin's Global Public Policy Institute, Thorsten Benner told Andrew Dickens the only option is for the CDU to govern with the outgoing Social Democrats. 

He says it's one of the better outcomes, as only a two-party coalition is necessary. 

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