'Firewall' against cooperation with AfD holds despite record result for German far-right party

Leader of Germany's conservative bloc Friedrich Merz says he will seek to form a coalition with the Social Democrats (SDP), the day after winning national elections.

A deal with the SDP, party of current Chancellor Olaf Scholz who finished in a humbling third place, would allow Merz to keep the far-right AfD away from power.

The AfD finished second with 20.8 percent of the vote, a historic result.

Despite doubling its share of votes since the last election, Germany’s other parties have vowed to maintain a "firewall" deal against cooperation with the far-right party.