Victorious yet weakened Merkel faces challenges in reshaping Europe: Experts

In the wake of the refugee crisis and the rise of right wing fanaticism in Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel secured her fourth term but sharp decline in the vote share will have bearing in her dominance over domestic as well as EU( European Union) politics, feel analysts.

Merkel’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party along with its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) recorded its worst election result since the Second World War, winning only 239 seats (33 per cent) in the 598-seat Bundestag.

Known as the ‘Queen of the Europe’ Merkel will no longer be in the position to have final word on crucial EU policy matters such as refugee crisis. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called her victory “remarkable" but expressed his apprehension over her ability to stand in favour of EU as she will have to do compromises with her coalition partners.

Though fragmented, German parliament will include six parties representing a much more diverse picture of German politics than its predecessor.

Entry of the Far-right party Alternative fur Deutschland (AFD) in German parliament - Bundestag – in half century reflects an alarming situation brewing under the belly. AFD securing third rank with 12.6 per cent vote share highlights the fact that return of Nazism in Europe is no longer an abstract idea.

Historic downfall in the vote share of Social Democratic Party (SPD) emphasises that Centre-left-socialist party has lost its appeal and connect with the people. The party which ruled post war Germany for most of the time, could only garner 20.5 per cent of vote share. SPD leader Martin Schulz who was seen as an alternative to the Merkel, called the result as “difficult and bitter day for German Social Democracy” while declining to be the part of Grand alliance under the leadership of Merkel. Though he would remain leader of the party but his position might be untenable.