Angela Merkel may remain as German Chancellor for a fourth consecutive term, but her former authority has been severely undermined by Sunday’s elections result.
Ms. Merkel’s party obtained just 33% of the overall votes, the lowest result in decades, as voters rebelled against the establishment in the usually conservative Germany.
She is now in a delicate position with little options, as the Chancellor is now forced to cobble together an uneasy coalition with opposing parties.
Her position is made that little more difficult by the presence of far-right party AfD in the Bundestag, the first time that a political force of such ideology has entered the German Parliament in over 60 years.