Angela Merkel's party loses to Social Democrats in closely fought German election

Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc lost to the center-left Social Democrats in Germany's national election.

The center-left Social Democrats have won the biggest share of the vote in Germany's national election, beating outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc in a closely fought race.

Election officials said early Monday that a count of all 299 constituencies showed the Social Democrats won 25.9 per cent of the vote, ahead of 24.1 per cent for the Union bloc.