What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Angela Merkel is on course for victory in the German elections, securing her fourth term as Chancellor.

The exit polls showed Mrs Merkel's conservative alliance comfortably ahead of Martin Schulz's social democrats.

But her victory was overshadowed by the gains of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party which will see the far-right win its first seats in the German national parliament for sixty years.

The exit poll put Mrs Merkel's CDU/CSU alliance on 32.5%, the social democrats on 20%,

AfD on 13.5%, the pro-business Free Democrats Party on 10.5%, Greens 9.5% and the Left party 9%.

(Image: Rex Features)

Mrs Merkel rode a backlash over her plans to allow 1million migrants into the country to join Helmut Kohl and Konrad Adenauer as the only post-war Chancellors to win four national elections.

An early surge of support for Mr Schulz fizzled out as voters rewarded Mrs Merkel for overseeing a booming economy and sought reassurance in her strong leadership in an uncertain world.

Ahead of the polls, Mrs Merkel and Mr Schulz had warned a low turn out would boost the AfD.

German election exit poll ARD/INFRATEST DIMAP

Mr Schulz branded the far-right party as the "gravediggers of democracy".

With no outright winner, Germany is now set for weeks of haggling over the make up of the new coalition government.

The AfD said Mrs Merkel will be "severely punished" for opening the door to refugees and migrants.

AfD candidate Alexander Gauland said: "The government, whatever it will look like, should get ready for tough times. We'll chase them. We'll take back our country and our people."

Mr Schulz said it was a "bitter day" for Germany's Social Democrats.

He added: "Especially depressing for all of us is the strength of the AfD, which for the first time brings a right-wing party into German parliament in such a strong position. This is a turning point.

(Image: Reuters)

"The fact that we took in more than 1 million refugees in our country is still dividing in our country.

"What for some has been an act of humanity and charity is to others menacing, strange and filled with fear. We did not manage to persuade all of our voters that Germany is strong enough not to leave anyone behind."

With no outright winner, Germany is now set for weeks of haggling over the make up of the new coalition government.

All the major parties have refused to work with the AfD.

Mrs Merkel hopes of renewing her grand coalition with Schulz's SPD were immediately dashed when the SPD's deputy leader Manuela Schwesig said her party would now go into opposition.

The Chancellor will now try to build a three-way alliance with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens – dubbed the “Jamaica” coalition after the black, yellow and green logos of the three parties.

"That is a really bad result for the SPD. That is a heavy defeat. For us, the grand coalition ends today. For us it's clear that we'll go into opposition as demanded by the voter,” said Ms Schwesig.