Merkel wins fourth term as AfD gains seats for first time

Angela Merkel has been re-elected for a fourth term, but it’s a hollow victory given the pummelling she and her former coalition partners received. and the success of the right-wing, nationalist Alternative for Germany party.

The AfD, which promised to fight “an invasion of foreigners”, seems to have capitalised on a backlash over Mrs Merkel’s decision to open Germany’s borders to over a million migrants and refugees in 2015. It all leaves a tense political backdrop and Mrs Merkel with a headache as she tries to cobble together a new ruling coalition.