Angela Merkel re-elected - but far-right AfD advances

Alternative fur Deutschland surged into third place with 13% of the vote

German chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel is seeking a fourth term as German chancellor
(Image credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Angela Merkel has been returned to power, securing her fourth term as German Chancellor in yesterday's general election.

Merkel’s centre-right Christian Democrat-led alliance secured 33% of the vote, 12 points ahead of her main rivals, Martin Schulz’s centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), which secured around 21% of the vote.

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