With a very close result as counting continues, it could be weeks or even months before a government is formed. But Sunday’s election has already delivered some significant results.
There is no clear frontrunner to replace Merkel as next German chancellor after this weekend’s election, but whoever succeeds her will have huge shoes to fill.
As her 16-year reign as German Chancellor comes to an end, Merkel will be remembered for her staunch centrism and her willingness to wait to sense the political mood - sometimes then changing course.
After 18 years as leader of her party, and 13 as German Chancellor, Angela Merkel has announced that this will be her last term. How has she changed Germany and the world?
Over three months since Germans voted in national elections, preliminary talks are due to start Jan. 7 on forming a coalition government. What has taken so long?