Remarkable: Merz wants to discuss reforming debt brake in the *outgoing* Bundestag, where CDU/CSU+SPD+Greens still have over 2/3 of seats, before new Bundestag is constituted by 25 March. Greens already signalled willingness this morning.

Fewer women as lawmakers in the new German parliament: The share of female lawmakers dropped to 31.2% compared to 34.9% in the 2021 election. The majority of female MPs with the Greens and the Left party, with 52 and 36 each out of 204 women in total. p.dw.com/p/4qxqM

Auferstanden aus Ruinen? Germany’s Left party surged up with 8-9 per cent in tonight's #BTW2025 projections, most strikingly dominating the youth vote (18- 24 years) with 25 per cent. p.dw.com/p/4qwjh

T-20 minutes until polls close for the 2025 Federal election in Germany. Exit polls are scheduled at 6 p.m. local time with regularly updated projections. Official results will likely not be known until Monday morning. Follow our DW News live coverage here: p.dw.com/p/4qw1f