Robin Fugmann, 20, an ardent supporter of Olaf Scholz, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), told CNN he was delighted by the election results so far.
"It is really an amazing result, people believe in Olaf Scholz, people believe that Armin Laschet really cannot lead this country," he said. "So we really have the mandate to lead a new government -- I hope we will do so. And first of all we are going to celebrate because this is a really amazing result."
Deborah Piraba, a 27-year-old law student and Young Christian Union Democrat, told CNN at the CDU headquarters that the results were "disappointing" but that nothing was lost yet.
"We have to consider that we are coming out of 16 years with Angela Merkel, whom I am a big fan of. I am already sad she is leaving the office," she said. "We call her Mutti (Mom), she knew how to talk to people and has the connection with people and she has done so much for Germany. This made her so special comparing her with other politicians. I will also miss her sense of humor."
Earlier today: Germany's left-leaning Social Democratic Party (SPD) celebrated a narrow lead in exit polls published after voting ended in Germany's federal election, but the final result of the closely fought contest remains uncertain.
A Forschungsgruppe Wahlen exit poll for CNN affiliate n-tv suggested the SPD had 25.7% of the vote, with the center-right Christian Democratic Union of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel on 24.6%, followed by the Greens at 14.4%, the FDP at 11.7% and the AfD at 10.7%.
The narrowness of the margins means the German elections are at this point too close to call and predicting the next government -- and chancellor -- is impossible. A large number of postal ballots also remain to be counted.
Whichever party comes out in front, lengthy coalition negotiations are expected before a government can be formed.