German election: Voting under way after campaign focused on economy and migration

Voters are heading to the polls in Germany’s general election.

They are electing a new parliament after a campaign focused on the state of Europe’s biggest economy and calls to restrict migration.

The vote also comes at a time of fragile relations between Europe and the US over Ukraine’s future in its war with Russia.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament last December, paving the way for an early election.

Mr Scholz, leader of Germany’s centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), had governed as the head of a fractious three-party coalition until it collapsed the previous month when he sacked his finance minister.

He had weeks of disputes with Christian Lindner over how to kickstart Germany’s stagnant economy.

Mr Lindner and his colleagues in the Free Democrats Party (FDP) promptly quit the coalition, leaving the SPD and their remaining partner, the Greens, without a majority in parliament.

Germany’s constitution does not allow the Bundestag to dissolve itself, so a confidence vote was needed to set in motion the early election, which is being held seven months ahead of schedule.

Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, has vowed to revive the stagnant economy and defend Europe’s interests in the face of a confrontational White House.

The far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany is looking to make gains – but has no other party willing to go into government with it.