German Chancellor

Its coalition partner, the social democratic SPD, has gained 20%, BBC reports.

Meanwhile, the AfD, a nationalist, anti-Islam party, was on track to win 13.5%, emerging as Germany's third-strongest party.

AfD's performance, better than what opinion poll had forecast, means that the far-right party will have a seat at the Bundestag for the first time.

Reports say Merkel will now have to form a coalition government, a process that could take months.