* SDP party emerged the largest in Germany's election, with 25.7 per cent of vote
* Olaf Scholz said 'many people' voted for change as coalition talks kicked off
* But rival Armin Laschet, Merkel's successor, has refused to concede - vowing to do 'everything possible' to form a government with himself as Chancellor
* King-makers are left-wing Greens and liberal FDP, on a combined 26 per cent
* Far-right AfD got 10 per cent, down from 12 per cent in 2017, but will not take part in talks after major parties ruled out working with them
Olaf Scholz and Armin Laschet have both claimed to have enough votes to become Germany's next Chancellor, after a tight election concluded with no clear winner.
Scholz's centre-left SPD has emerged with the largest share of the vote after Sunday's ballot with 25.7 per cent - a huge improvement on the 15 per cent it polled in the run-up to the vote, and on the 20 per cent it got in 2017.
But Armin Laschet, Merkel's successor and leader of the centre-right CDU-CSU, has refused to relinquish his claim to power - saying he will do 'everything possible' to form a coalition government despite his party polling an historic low of 24.1 per cent.
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WNU Editor: Here is the vote breakdown .... German election 2021: full results and analysis (The Guardian)
German Election 2021 -- News Updates September 27, 2021
German election 2021: Both CDU and SPD aim to form coalitions — live updates -- DW
Germany elections: Centre-left claim narrow win over Merkel's party -- BBC
Germany's centre-left SPD, conservative CDU aim to form coalitions -- France 24
Germany: SPD intends to form coalition with Greens and liberals -- The Guardian
Angela Merkel could remain Chancellor for months after main German parties vie for coalition partners -- ABC News Australia
Germans reject political extremes as centre-left SPD takes the lead -- France 24
German election: Seven things we learned -- Alix Kroeger, BBC News