After tens of millions of Germans cast their ballots in today's federal election — or some 84% of the country's nearly 60 million eligible voters — the latest exit polls suggest that the CDU/CSU are in the lead to govern with around 28.

What is Germany's 'debt brake?' In Germany, the federal government and the 16 states (Länder) are obliged to balance their budgets and are practically prohibited from taking out extra loans. No other G7 country has such strict limits on new borrowing.