Germany’s political system is set up to exclude extremists. Yet the country is waking up to a new political reality that has lurched to the right with the once outcast Alternative for Germany (AfD) party now firmly established in German politics.

Weidel said voters had delivered a “clear majority” for a coalition with the AfD, which came second, and the winning Christian Democrats (CDU). But CDU leader Friedrich Merz has ruled out a coalition with the far-right party.