Merkel bloc wins election but faces far-right challenge

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s bloc has won a fourth term in German elections, but will face a far-right opposition in parliament, projections showed on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reports.

Public television ARD put support for Merkel’s conservative bloc CDU/CSU at 33 percent, down from 41.5 percent in the last federal election in 2013.

Despite a nearly 13-point lead over their Social Democrat rivals, Merkel’s conservatives failed to secure an outright majority in Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which took an anti-Islamic line during the election campaign, managed to get into the federal parliament for the first time.

Riding a sharp increase in voter support, it was projected to reach 13.3 percent, making it the third-largest political group in the Bundestag.

Four years ago, the AfD failed to pass the 5 percent threshold and was unable to enter the federal parliament.