Preliminary results showed that the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) had won the largest share of the vote at 25.7 percent, according to figures on the election commission's website
In office so long she was dubbed Germany's "eternal chancellor", Merkel, 67, leaves with her popularity so resilient she would likely have won a record fifth term had she sought it
US Secretary of State will meet with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas before they lead a 20-nation virtual meeting of ministers on the way forward in Afghanistan