Germany's new government may not be sworn in for several weeks to come, as the two main political parties head into coalition talks.
The centre-left Social Democrats has narrowly edged out the Christian Democratic Union, the party which the current chancellor Angela Merkel had hoped to be the successor.
But the tight finish leaves the Green Party, which placed third, as the likely kingmaker in the formation of the next government.
Correspondent Thomas Sparrow spoke to Corin Dann.
