Spotlight: Merkel's party wins commanding yet lower votes as far-right AfD to debut in parliament

German Chancellor candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Martin Schulz (R, Front) delivers a speech at the headquarters of SPD in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 24, 2017. The conservative union led by German sitting Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday defended its commanding role in the Bundestag (German parliament) with 32.5 percent of the vote, falling short of expectations with a nine-percentage gap compared with the election four years ago. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)