BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel clinched a fourth term in Germany’s election Sunday, but her victory was clouded by the entry into parliament of the hard-right AfD in the best showing for a nationalist force since World War II. Its nearest rivals, the Social Democrats and their candidate Martin Schulz, came in a distant second, with a post-war record low of 21 per cent. Hundreds of protesters rallied outside, shouting “Nazis out!” while smaller AfD demonstrations were held in other cities across the country. Turnout was markedly higher than four years ago, up to around 76 per cent from 71.5 per cent. Merkel admitted that she had fallen far short of the 40-per cent goal her party set.

Source: New Strait Times September 24, 2017 23:15 UTC