The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left Party jointly secured one third of seats in the new parliament, enough to block a loosening of Germany's debt brake - a mechanism some investors and political parties say stymies economic growth.

The debt brake, or “Schuldenbremse”, caps the federal government’s new borrowing at 0.35 percent of Germany’s gross domestic product (GDP) – except in emergencies – and bars its 16 states from taking on new debt. It is designed to prevent irresponsible government spending.

The vote comes at a pivotal time for Europe, which faces an increasingly assertive Trump administration.