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.

The Christian Democrats won with 28.6% of the vote while the far-right Alternative for Germany came second with 20.8%.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Germany's Left party jointly secured one third of seats in the new parliament that is required to block changes to the constitution, including a loosening of the country's debt brake.