Merkel Back Stronger Than Ever

Germany's Social Democrats take a beating:

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin says the result seems a disaster for the Social Democrats (SPD), who could have their lowest share of the vote since World War II.

The SPD have shared power with Mrs Merkel's CDU/CSU in an awkward grand coalition since the last elections in 2005.

An exit poll for ZDF television gave the CDU/CSU 33.5%, SPD 23.5% and the FDP, Mrs Merkel's preferred partners, 14.5%.

This would give the centre-right alliance, with 48% in total, a narrow majority over the SPD and the two other major parties, the Greens and the Left, both of which increased their share of the vote.