Social Democrats Declare Victory, in Germany's Historic Election.<br />The Social Democrats (SPD) party is <br />described as center-left and now holds <br />206 parliamentary seats.<br />The SPD defeated outgoing <br />Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, <br />the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).<br />Merkel has led Germany for nearly 16 years. .<br />Her tenure as Chancellor could end up <br />being the longest of any post-War German leader.<br />The leader of the SPD party, Olaf Scholz, <br />declared that his party's win means they have <br />been handed a mandate to form a new government.<br />Scholz has indicated his intention to form <br />a coalition of the Green and Liberal parties.<br />The Green party won a historic <br />15 percent of the vote.<br />The leader of Angela <br />Merkel's conservative party<br />disputes his rival's <br />victory declaration ... .<br />... signaling a battle ahead for the SPD to solidify its narrow win.<br />The CDU won 196 parliamentary seats.<br />Merkel will remain <br />chancellor until the <br />coalition is formed.<br />Regardless of which top party — either the SPD or the <br />CDU — is able to negotiate a successful coalition, .<br />a three party coalition government <br />is a first for Germany.<br />While Germany's far-right party performed poorly in the election, it appears to hold the most sway of any party in the country's eastern states with nationalist leanings
