German Chancellor Angela Merkel claimed victory in the German election

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has claimed victory in the German election but has conceded she had hoped for a better result. Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) stunned the establishment by finishing third in the country's election, entering the German parliament for the first time with 13.5 per cent of the vote.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) smiles at the CDU election event in Berlin, Germany, 24 September 2017. Source: AAP