GETTY German elections polls live latest results Angela Merkel AfD Martin Schulz Germany news

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Angela Merkel has won a fourth term as Chancellor after the CDU and its sister party CSU won 33 per cent of the vote.

The far-right, anti-immigrant AfD will enter the German Bundestag after finishing in third place with 12.6 per cent.

One million voters have changed camp, dropping support for the CDU and moving to the AfD.

A CDU/SPD 'grand coalition' has been ruled out by SPD leader Martin Schulz whose party won 20.5 per cent. Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) have managed to win a landslide victory over Martin Schulz's Social Democrats (SPD). But Mrs Merkel now needs to strike a coalition deal by forming in a three-way alliance between the CDU/CSU, Greens and liberal Free Democrats (FDP). The AfD are now the third largest party, but the SPD will become the opposition after ruling out another grand coalition with the CDU/CSU. Alexander Gauland, one the AfD’s top candidates, vowed to ‘hunt’ the new government and Angela Merkel, adding: “We will reclaim our country and our people.” Here are all the latest live updates, polls and news in the aftermath of the German federal election. (All times BST)

Monday September 25 2.38pm: Angela Merkel’s election victory is welcomed by investors Jordan Hiscott, Chief Trader at Ayondo Markets, thinks that a fourth term for the incumbent Chancellor is a good sign for Germany's markets. He said: “While her final vote count was lower than many expected, a fourth term for Angela Merkel is certainly a mark of stability for Germany. “If we compare it to the most recent European elections, and certainly the French election, the result was what many investors would have wanted, which is a stable and predictable outcome. “What may concern some is the unexpected gains of the right-wing AfD party. Nevertheless, with Angela Merkel’s fourth term, Germany’s main stock market, the DAX moves positive on the day, and I expect, should the positive momentum continue, we will challenge for the all-time high of 12,951 made in June this year.” 1.41pm: Election demographics revealed: Middle aged voters backed the AfD Men and women from across all ages coked to the AfD at the polling booth, but the party found its strongest support in voters aged 34 to 44. The AfD however perform worst with elderly voters over 60-year-old. Angela Merkel’s CDU meanwhile saw strong support from women, who were considerably more likely than men to back the CDU/CSU. According to exit polls, only 30 per cent of men backed the Christian Democratic Union, down from 39 per cent in the last election Noon: Sebastian Kettley taking over live reporting from Alice Foster

ZDF AfD voters: The majority of AfD voters where middle aged Germans

11.50am: AfD co-leader Frauke Petry not to be part of AfD's group in parliament AfD co-leader Frauke Petry has made the shock announcement that she will not sit in parliament with AfD members. "I've decided I won't be part of the AfD's group in the German parliament but will initially be an individual member of parliament in the lower house," Ms Petry said today. "I think we should be open today that there is a disagreement over content in the AfD and I think we shouldn't hush this up because society is calling for an open debate.” She declined to answer further questions, including whether she would remain the AfD's co-leader, but said the public would hear from her in the coming days. Until a few months ago, Ms Petry was the face of the AfD but she decided against running as the party’s candidate in the German election. 9.48am: Alice Foster taking over live reporting from Reiss Smith.

German election: Photos from the election Mon, September 25, 2017 Latest pictures during the upcoming general elections in Germany Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 22 Demonstrators scuffle with police during the protest against the anti-immigration party Alternative for Deutschland AfD, after German general election (Bundestagswahl) in Berlin

9.00am: Merkel could wind up ‘a lame duck’ Angela Merkel’s election victory has been overshadowed by the rise of the AfD, and now a top economist has suggested that the Chancellor’s poor showing could turn her into a “lame duck”. "The weak result could make Angela Merkel a lame duck much faster than international observers and financial markets think," ING economist Carsten Brzeski said. WHAT IS THE AFD? 7.30am: Business leaders demand speedy coalition A group of industry heads have urged Angela Merkel to move quickly in signing a new coalition deal in order to protect Germany’s economy. "Our companies need clear signals. Now it's all about averting damage to Germany as a place of business," Dieter Kempf, president of the BDI industry association, said. 7.25am: Reiss Smith taking over live reporting from Sebastian Kettley.

GERMAN FEDERAL RETURNING OFFICER German election 2017 results in full

4.15am: Euro slips over uncertainty Investment may be unsettled as a result of a Merkel's weakened positioned and a potentially unstable three-way coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens who are untested at the national levels. The euro slipped in early Asian trading on Monday trading down 0.4 percent at $1.1906, with the prospect of months of uncertainty in Europe's biggest economy looming. WHO WILL BE IN THE JAMAICA COALITION? 2.00am: Coalition failure could trigger new election Merkel has the complex task of forming a coalition, but said there will be a stable government by Christmas. Germans have dubbed her likely alliance with the FDP and Greens as a "Jamaica coalition". The name comes from the combination of their party colours – Black for Merkel's CDU, Yellow for the FDP and Green for the Green party. But some experts think the talks could fail between Merkel allies the CSU and the Greens, and trigger a fresh election. Der Spiegel's Mathieu von Rohr tweeted: "'Jamaica coalition' will be hard to negotiate;. "Greens/CSU toxic couple. If 'Jamaica' fails & SDP sticks to its decision => new election"

GETTY The Euro has slipped in early morning trading

Sunday September 24 8.03pm: John McCain congratulates Angela Merkel on victory US Senator John McCain tweeted his congratulations to Angela Merkel and her CDU party. He tweeted: “Congratulations to Angela Merkel & the @CDU on their election victory in #Germany. The US-German alliance is critical & must remain strong.” 7.59pm: Marine Le Pen congratulates AfD on ‘historic revival of Europe’s people’ Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s right-wing National Front party, tweeted her congratulations to the German AfD. She tweeted: “Congratulations to our allies of the #AfD for this historic score! It is a new symbol of the revival of the European peoples. “A special congratulations to Franke Petry who led the AfD at this historic score!” 7.56pm: ‘Berlin hates the AfD’ chant protesters on the streets of Berlin Hundreds of demonstrators took to Alexanderplatz to protest the AfD’s success in the federal election, outside of an AfD celebration party. "All of Berlin hates the AfD,” the protesters chanted as the police shield the AfD party from the protesters. Some brawls and clashes have already broken out.

REUTERS Election debate: SPD leader Martin Schulz blasted Mrs Merkel throughout the debate

7.49pm: Angela Merkel addresses AfD concerns about number of migrants in Germany The German Chancellor said: “I see plenty of people on the streets but I can’t distinguish which of them have a German citizenship or don’t, whether they have an ethnic background or not. “I think that you have said that some of these people should have been sent to Anatolia. That’s come from your ranks. “I think we have a problem here. I think we have tried to make it clear how we understand our constitution. “We want to have a discussion that is going to be though.” 7.40pm: Angela Merkel admits responsibility for the migrant crisis – but denies breaking the law Angela Merkel has denied allegations that her 2015 decision to allow one million migrants into Germany was illegal. She said: "All of the decisions made in September 2015, went through the European Court of Justice and conformed with all of the law, and the Supreme Constitutional Court has also looked at all of these decisions – so these accusations that we did not conform with the law are simply wrong." But she said that she was responsible for the handling of the migrant crisis last year. “I am the chancellor of Germany, and therefore I am always responsible, and I am not trying to escape this responsibility to any degree,” she said. “In recent weeks we have recapitulated what took place in Autumn 2015 and I will stick to my positions that were discussed – having water cannons on the German border was just not right. “It is also however also right that we haven’t managed to fully get rid of the concerns that people have. There are concerns that people have about integration, illicit migration. These are things we need to sort out. “External border protection isn’t where it needs to be and we cannot say that we’ve managed to combat all of the cause that lead to people fleeing their homes. “And as I have said, there is still much that needs to be done."

AFP/GETTY Election debate: Angela Merkel accepted some responsibility for the migration crisis

7.30pm: ’Angela Merkel will do anything to stay in power’ blasts Schulz SPD leader Martin Schulz continues his offensive against Mrs Merkel, attacking her theoretical coalition in the Bundestag. “Mrs Merkel will make any concession to stay in power,” he said. “Somebody called her a ‘hoover of ideas’. She just sucks up the people’s ideas. “I believe that our job in Germany is to ensure that there is that confrontation that this country needs desperately. Those on the right and on the left of democracy need to give citizens a plan for the future. “Mrs Merkel hasn’t done it. We have a plan.” 7.22pm: Martin Shultz blasts Angela Merkel for shocking election results The SPD leader said: “We are a strong bastion against the enemies of democracy who now sit in the Bundestag, and I believe that Mrs Merkel ran an election that was scandalous – refusing to enter a confrontation with the democratic left party and right parties. “This refusal to make a clear statement about her policies created a vacuum which was filled by the AfD. “I belive that they’ve paid the price. They’re going to go away and think about what kind of future is possible.” 7.15pm: Party leader debate starts in Berlin

DW German elections: Party leaders have gathered for a debate on the future of Germany

7.12pm: Anti-AfD protests erupt in Berlin over shock right-wing victory Shocked civilians and left-wing voters have gathered on the streets of Berlin to protest the AfD’s entrance into the Bundestag. According to Mathieu von Rohr, hundreds of protesters near the AfD election party in Berlin are screaming: "All of Berlin hates the AfD.” 6.51pm: Election results prove that the EU needs to ‘wake-up’ Deputy editor of Brexit Central, Darren Grimes, tweeted: “Thanks to the makeup of the German coalition, Juncker’s integrationist plans won’t be going ahead. Certainly not plain sailing for the EU. “The German election should be a wake-up call for the EU. The electorate isn’t happy and ‘more Europe’ isn’t the solution. Will they listen? 6.42pm: Germany’s leadership in the EU could take a hit over poor election results Georgi Gotev, senior editor of EurActiv.com, tweeted: “My short analysis: With Jamaica coalition, Germany can no longer afford the luxury of EU leadership.” 6.38pm: ‘Coalition will be difficult’ says CDU’s former Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière, has expressed his disappointment in the election results, saying his party will need to carefully examine its next steps. He said: “We would have hoped for more, but numbers obviously went down in the last couple weeks. We need to analyse why the big parties lost votes. “Will a coalition with the Greens as part of Jamaican coalition be possible? It will be difficult. “We will carefully negotiate, but it will be difficult.”

ARD Exit polls: The CDU came out as the biggest loser in the exit poll projections

6.30pm: AfD boss vows ‘change’ in government over the next four years AfD boss Frauke Petry said that the success in the election was an incentive to to prepare for a "change of government for 2021", she said on MDR television She underlined that the CDU had "lost drastically, but not enough when looking at the disastrously wrongly control of this country”. 6.24pm: Latest exit polls announced CDU – 33.1 per cent

SPD – 20.4 per cent

Left Party – 8.9 per cent

Greens – 9.3 per cent

FDP – 10.4 per cent

AfD – 13.2 per cent

Others – 4.7 per cent The CDU/CSU has lost 8.4 points in the election, with most of the lost voters shifting to the right-wing AfD. The AfD meanwhile has seen a strong 8.5 point growth in the polls. The anti-immigrant party is now looking to hold 87 seats in the Bundestag. Angela Merkel can hope to keep around 219 seats, with the SPD in the second majority with 135 seats.

DW Election results: The AfD could hold onto 87 seats in parliament, based on exit polls

6.03pm: Alice Weidel vows to ‘scrutinise’ Angela Merkel with parliamentary committee The leader of the right-wing AfD party has vowed to launch a special committee that will investigate Angela Merkel's role in the migrant crisis. She said: "We are going to initiate an investigation committee for Angela Merkel, which will look into the legal crimes of this woman." The 38-year-old former investment banker argues that Mrs Merkel's 2015 decision to allow one million migrants into Germany was illegal. 6pm: AfD: ‘Thank you for the wonderful election result’ Alice Weidel, AfD leader, said: “We really got the election results tonight. Now the voters have given us a mandate and we intend to use it with all due humility. “Millions of voters have given us their trust for constructive opposition in the Bundestag and we will deliver.” 5.55pm: Coalition with the CDU is up to the new Chancellor says Greens leader Winfried Kretschmann, leader of the Greens, said that he is happy with the election results but the possibility of a coalition with the CDU is not up to him. The Greens leader said: "Not up to us, it is up to the old and new chancellor if we are offered talks we will take them seriously. “An alliance with macron will be important and future of Europe. You always have to compromise in any coalition.”

REUTERS Election results: Angela Merkel thanked for the election results and support

5.53pm: Angela Merkel: ‘We would have liked a better result’ Speaking at the CDU headquarters, Mrs Merkel said: “We got were we wanted to be. We are the strongest power. "It is now down to us to form a government and against us no government can be formed.” 5.50pm: AfD 'gains' 88 MPs in German parliament The latest preliminary forecasts expect the controversial AfD to gain 88 seats in the Bundestag. Simon Tilford of the Centre for European Reform tweeted: “13.5% for AFD grim, but its high point given refugee inflows falling back? Hopefully SPD result will force it to be more social-democratic.” In East Germany, the AfD came out as the second strongest party, according to the latest exit polls, with 21.5 per cent of the vote – compared to the CDU’s 26.5 per cent. 5.40pm: Martin Schulz vows to go into the Bundestag as an opposition party 5.36pm: Martin Schulz says SDP 'did not achieve victory' Appearing at the SDP headquarters, Mr Schultz said: “Comrades good evening. Friends of social democracy, thank you for the courage, the strength that you have expressed just now. “Today is a bitter day, a difficult day for social democracy. I don’t want to mince my words here, we did not achieve our electoral victory. “But I want to thank you for the wonderful campaign that we’ve led here. There were so many who supported us and those who voted for us are less than we had hoped. “Rest assured that we will use the votes that we have had to fight for our principles, to fight for our values, tolerance and respect.” Mr Schulz also expressed his shock at the number of seats the AfD gained in the Bundestag.

5.30pm: AfD gains a million voters in CDU members At least one million former CDU voters and previous non-voters have shifted towards the ant-immigrant AfD in the election. Volker Kauer of the CDU admitted that this is something that the party will need to look into.

German Socialists call their performance in #GermanElection a "catastrophe." — Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) September 24, 2017

5.27pm: SDP may rule out another grand coalition SPD official Thomas Oppermann has said that the Social-Democrats should rule out grand coalition with Mrs Merkel’s CDU again. The only feasible option left for the Conservatives, is to strike a 'Jamaica' coalition with the Greens and FDP. A Jamaica coalition would give the three parties 348 seats in the Bundestag 5.20pm: Election results are a slap in the face for Angela Merkel and the grand coalition The shockingly low voter support for the CDU/CSU has come as a surprise to some, who expected Angela Merkel’s party to stay strong. Robin Gramer, Robbie Gramer, a national security reporter at Foreign Policy tweeted: “Breaking: Merkel wins German elections. Overshadowed by: For the first time since 1945, a far right party will be in German parliament according to exit polls. Far right AfD party gets 13.5%. Many centrists had hoped for a 8-10% maximum. “‘’This is a slap in the face’ one German campaign operative tells me. “While Merkel's party wins (CDU-CSU union), it wins with the lowest numbers in decades. This election is a victory for the 3rd parties.” “CDU campaigner tells me what an SPD campaigner told me earlier: ‘This is horrible’”.

AFP/GETTY German elections: The shocking results have stunned SDP voters in Germany

5.10pm: Exit polls prove voters are ‘frustrated’ with the grand coalition Melinda Crane, the chief political correspondent at DW, expelled that the shockingly poor results for the CDU, prove that voters are fed up with the status quo. “Yes they like the chancellor personally, yes they know that she is esteemed abroad and that pleases them as well. “But there is a feeling that the country is adrift, that its’ not really preparing for a future that will hold a lot of challenges. Demographic challenges. Economic challenges. “As you know and I think it’s been mentioned, investment has been very low under a Conservative led government. “So I think that there is a general sense of unease even among mainstream voters, and if you look at these results, it’s quite interesting to see that all of the smaller parties have done better. "All of them across the board, meaning people are migrating away from this two big mainstream parties that used to be called the ‘Volksparty’ in Germany – the parties of the masses. “They are shrinking to a size, particularly the SPD, where they no longer qualify for that term. That’s a historic turning point for the SPD.

5pm: Exit polls are out – CDU 'wins' 32.5 points CDU – 32.5 per cent

SPD – 20.0 per cent

Left Party – 9.0 per cent

Greens – 9.5 per cent

FDP – 10.5 per cent

AfD – 13.5 per cent

Others – 5.0 per cent The first round of exit polls suggest that Angela Merkel’s CDU/CSU won a minority victory. If the result stay on course after the ballot count, Mrs Merkel will need to find allies that will help her strike a coalition. “Greens with a strong result, will help leadership to convince members of a Jamaica coalition,” said Christian Odendahl, of the Centre for European Reform. “This is a disaster for the #SPD. Cannot see them joining another grand coalition with Merkel, members will revolt.”

Bundestag projection 6pm ARD pic.twitter.com/vl0wKEYZH5 — Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) September 24, 2017

4.53pm: Leaked exit polls suggest AfD scored 15 per cent of the vote Robbie Gramer, a national security reporter at Foreign Policy, claims t have seen leaked exit polls that gave the AfD 15 per cent in the polls. He said in a tweet: "Some leaked poll numbers I saw put Germany's far-right AfD party above 15%, which is astonishing. (Caveat these are early exit poll numbers)”. The main worry in the run up to the election was that AfD voters would admit to their choice of party in the opinion polls, skewing the result before election day.

It's standing room only at the @CDU headquarters as results are about to come in. #GermanElection pic.twitter.com/ze1QUOWKjE — Ron Nehring (@RonNehring) September 24, 2017

4.45pm: German left heading for ‘crushing defeat’ Ron Nehring, a former US National Spokesman who is currently at the CDU headquarters in Germany, thinks that the German left will be extremely disappointed with the election results. He said in a tweet: “I get the sense the left in Germany is heading to a crushing defeat, extremely poor showing in today's election. First results in 20 mins. "In Jan, Merkel's party tied w/ socialists, 32-32. Tonight, she'll roar back into office as SPD and Greens collapse." 4.40pm: A 5 per cent AfD victory could be enough of a success for right-wing party Mathieu von Rohr, deputy head of the Der Spiegel Foreign desk, thinks that entering the Bundestag will be enough of a victory to cause and upset in Germany. He tweeted: “What should be seen as a success for AfD? Need 5% to enter Bundestag. Polls predict 10%+ which would be big. 15%+ would be an upset.”

GETTY German elections: The AfD is looking to become the third strongest party in the Bundestag

4.30pm: Exit polls out in just 30 minutes The first round of exit polls are expected to be released in just 30 minutes. The final ballot count will not be out until 2am, but the exit polls are known to be extremely reliable in the German elections. By 5.30pm, a mix of exit polls and preliminary ballot counts should give a clearer picture of the results. FIND OUT HOW TO WATCH THE ELECTION RESULTS LIVE ONLINE 4.20pm: AfD could be in a position of power if it enters the Bundestag Melinda Crane, the chief political correspondent at DW, explained how the AfD ganging parliamentary seats would put it in a position of power. “One of the things we’re going to be watching is not only the percentage of seats, but also will the AfD then come in as a strong third party, because that means potentially if the two main parties – the SPD, the Social Democrats and the CDU and Angela Merkel’s Conservatives – were once again o govern in a grand coalition, the AfD would become the leader of the opposition. “That carries a number of perquisites, including for example the right for open debate in the Bundestag when it’s about the budget. “That is a powerful position and it will be a powerful platform for discourse that may trouble many German citizens. “As you know, we’ve seen the threshold on what is acceptable political discourse here in Germany.”

AFP/GETTY German election: Volunteers counting ballot papers in Hamburg

4.15pm: Latest opinion polls with 45 minutes before polls close The are the latest opinion polls collected by Infratest dime: CDU/CSU – 37 per cent

SPD – 20 per cent

Greens – 7.5 per cent

FDP – 9.5 per cent

Left Party – 9.0 per cent

AfD – 12.0 per cent

Others – 5.0 per cent 4pm: Election turn out slips with one hour to go A Federal Returning Officer confirmed today that by 1pm, only 41.4 per cent of the electorate cast their election ballot. "It has perhaps never been as clear that the elections are about the future of democracy and Europe," the Officer wrote in newspaper Bild am Sonntag. "If you don't vote, others decide." More than 60 million Germans are eligible to vote in the federal elections. The largest group of voters is older and born in Germany to German parents, predominantly in the range of 70 and older – 20.7 per cent of the electorate according to theFederal Office of Statistics. About 10.4 per cent of the voters are estimated to have a “migrant background” and 51.5 per cent of German voters are women.

GETTY German Elections: Angela Merkel hopes to win another fourth term in office

3.55pm: High election turnout could ‘benefit’ right-wing AfD, claims expert Christian Odendahl tweeted: “As elsewhere, I think this time around the relatively high turnout will benefit the populists in Germany.” 3.50pm: Angela Merkel casts her vote The German Chancellor cast her ballot at a polling station in a school in Berlin's Mitte district. in a bod to secure her fourth term in office. Markus Putzel, an election volunteer at the Berlin polling station told CNN that the turnout is “quite high” there. It's a bit like the German Bundesliga," he said. "You know that Bayern Munich will always be the champion, but it is exciting to see who will come second." 3.30pm: Angela Merkel still in the lead with two hours to go A number of polls show that Mrs Merkel’s CDU/CSU is still in the lead for victory. A Pollytix election aggregator predicts that the Conservative’s will secure 36.1 per cent of the vote. based on the average of 21 different pollsters. The SPD are in second place with 22.2 per cent of the vote, and the AfD are looking to score 10.6 per cent of the vote.

GETTY German election: SPD leader Martin Shulz already cast his ballot

3pm: ‘Dull election will change nothing’ claims expert Simon Tilford, deputy director of the Centre of European Reform has not been impressed by the German election so far. He tweeted: “For an election this dull and unlikely to change anything much (inside or outside the country), there sure is a lot of coverage of #BTW2017.’”

POLLYTIX German election polls latest: Angela Merkel's CDU is in the lead to win