| Follow-up. |
Voters sent the nation's main left-wing party, the Social Democrats of Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, into opposition after 11 years as part of the government. It was the party's worst parliamentary election result since World War II.
"There is no talking around it: this is a bitter defeat," a subdued Steinmeier said, vowing to lead a strong opposition.
The conservative Merkel managed to end her four-year "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats thanks to a very strong showing by her new coalition partner, the pro-business Free Democrats. Her own Christian Democrats produced an underwhelming showing.
"Tonight we can really celebrate," said a beaming Merkel, greeted by chants of "Angie! Angie!" from supporters. "(But) there are many problems in our country to be solved."
Projections by the nation's public broadcasters, based on partial vote counts, put support for Merkel's Christian Democrats at up to 33.8 percent of the vote and for the Social Democrats at about 23 percent. The Free Democrats captured nearly 15 percent, the Left Party had 12 percent or more and the Greens above 10 percent.
| The Frees used to get 5 to 6 percent. What happened? And it looks like the Greens and the Left are cannibalizing the Social Democrats. |