Germany's Angela Merkel turns to the task of sounding out partners to build a coalition government after securing a fourth term as chancellor in Sunday's election although she was weakened by a surge in support for the far right.
Damaged by her handling of the 2015 migrant crisis, Merkel's conservative bloc took 33 percent of the vote, down 8.5 points from the 2013 election and hitting its lowest level since 1949.
The German establishment was shocked as conservative voters flocked to the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), which took 12.6 percent of the vote. It was the first time a far-right party has entered the German parliament in more than half a century.
However, Merkel's party is still the biggest parliamentary bloc and Europe's most powerful leader said her conservatives would set about building the next government, adding she was sure a coalition would be agreed by Christmas.
"There cannot be a coalition government built against us," she said.
However, a weaker Merkel at the head of a potentially unstable coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens, untested at national level, unsettled investors.
The euro slipped in early Asian trading on Monday trading down 0.2 percent at $1.1930, with the prospect looming of months of uncertainty in Europe's biggest economy. [nL4N1M601F]
"Earthquake, warning, landslide, shock. This election can only be described with such drastic vocabulary. It was an anti-Merkel election which ended as a pro-Merkel election," said Germany's Handelsblatt business daily.
Some business leaders were alarmed, saying a party likened by the foreign minister to Nazis could hurt Germany.
"The AfD in the German Bundestag (parliament) is damaging our country," employers' association BDA leader Ingo Kramer said. "The other parties now have the task of cornering the AfD in direct parliamentary debate."
One of the AfD's leading candidates, Alexander Gauland, gave a foretaste of what was to come, vowing to "hound" Merkel and "get our country and our people back".
Industry leaders urged Merkel to move fast.
"Our companies need clear signals. Now it's all about averting damage to Germany as a place of business," Dieter Kempf, president of the BDI industry association, said.
After her current Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partner said it would go into opposition after slumping to a post-war low of 20.5 percent, Merkel's main option is to pursue a three-way partnership.
A "Jamaica" alliance of her conservative bloc, the FDP, on 10.7 percent, and the Greens, on 8.9 percent, could be fragile due to fundamental differences on issues from migrants to tax, the environment and Europe.
In particular, the prospect of Merkel sharing power with the FDP is likely to create problems for deeper integration of the euro zone as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Reuters
Mon Sep 25 2017
Christian Democratic Union CDU party leader and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacts on first exit polls in the German general election (Bundestagswahl) in Berlin, Germany, September 24, 2017. - Photo Reuter/Kai Pfaffenbach
Proses penamaan calon berlangsung 9 pagi ini
Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) membuka tirai hari ini dengan bermulanya proses penamaan calon di Dewan Serbaguna Dan Kompleks Sukan Daerah Hulu Selangor.
Penunggang motosikal berkuasa tinggi maut nahas
Mangsa lelaki berusia 34 tahun yang bekerja sebagai pemuzik di DBKL meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian.
Bebaskan pasaran buruh dari perangkap gaji berasaskan kelayakan akademik - Penganalisis
Malaysia harus beralih ke arah penetapan gaji berdasarkan kompetensi pekerja.
Raja Charles III sambung tugas awam minggu depan
Raja Britain, Raja Charles ketiga akan meneruskan tugas awamnya minggu depan setelah cataT perubahan baik dalam rawatan kanser. Baginda akan memulakan dengan lawatan simbolik ke pusat rawatan kanser.
Demonstrasi pro-Palestin di kampus universiti AS
Demonstrasi pro-Palestin tercetus di beberapa kampus utama Amerika Syarikat. Pelajar menuntut gencatan senjata kekal dan menekan Washington untuk menamatkan sumbangan dana tentera kepada Israel.
Dakwaan Israel: PBB masih siasat 8 individu
Pasukan Khas PBB menutup satu kes dan menggantung tiga kes berhubung dakwaan terhadap 12 petugas UNRWA yang terlibat dengan Hamas, susulan kekurangan bukti dari Israel.
Hamas mahu gencatan senjata bersyarat
Hamas komited kuatkuasa gencatan senjata dalam perang dengan Israel, namun dengan syarat yang dituntut.
Penghidap kanser tulang impikan telefon bimbit
Siti Zubaidah, calon SPM yang mengidap kanser tulang, bercita-cita memiliki telefon bimbit untuk merakam kenangan sebelum pergi. Petronas merealisasikan impian ini melalui program 50 Dreams.
Malaysia seru pihak terlibat supaya bertenang dan minta siasatan dijalankan terhadap isu kemanusiaan di Gaza
Malaysia seru semua pihak yang terlibat supaya bertenang dan menghentikan tindakan provokatif yang boleh memburukkan lagi konflik di rantau Asia Barat.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu bermula hari ini
PRK DUN Kuala Kubu Baharu dimulakan hari ini dengan proses penamaan calon di Dewan Serbaguna dan Kompleks Sukan Daerah Hulu Selangor. Calon dari parti serta calon bebas boleh serahkan borang pencalonan mulai jam 9 pagi.
Bekas Canselor Jerman Angela Merkel terima anugerah tertinggi negara
Merkel memegang jawatan canselor dari 2005 hingga 2021.
Jerman hentikan operasi tiga loji nuklear terakhir
Jerman menghentikan operasi tiga loji tenaga nuklear terakhirnya pada Sabtu sebagai sebahagian daripada peralihan kepada tenaga boleh diperbaharui.
Canselor Jerman: Era pemerintahan Angela Merkel tamat selepas 16 tahun
Olaf Scholz secara rasmi dilantik sebagai Canselor Jerman yang baharu pada Rabu menggantikan Angela Merkel.
COVID-19: Jerman debat isu wajibkan vaksinasi
Pada Ahad, kes jangkitan koronavirus sepanjang tujuh hari lalu di Jerman meningkat ke paras tertinggi sejak wabak itu bermula untuk hari ke-14 berturut-turut.
COVID-19: Jerman bakal kenakan peraturan baharu
Peraturan baharu itu akan dibawa ke Parlimen untuk diluluskan hari ini.
COVID-19: Angela Merkel rayu rakyat Jerman segera dapatkan vaksin
Ini kerana, kata Merkel, kadar jangkitan COVID-19 di negara itu mencecah angka baharu tertinggi dengan bilangan korban turut meningkat.
Sekatan Jerman terhadap minyak sawit berdasarkan kepada maklumat palsu
Sekatan Jerman terhadap minyak sawit adalah berdasarkan kepada maklumat palsu dan secara sengaja tidak merujuk kepada fakta alam sekitar.
Parti Canselor Angela Merkel mula kempen pilihan raya secara rasmi
Parti Kristian Demokrat (CDU) yang kini dipimpin Armin Laschet berharap dapat terus mentadbir negara selepas Merkel umum mahu mengundur diri.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Jerman bakal kenakan caj ujian COVID-19 kepada yang enggan terima vaksin
Tiada lagi ujian saringan COVID-19 percuma untuk golongan yang enggan menerima vaksin, kata Canselor Angela Merkel pada Selasa.