Germany’s former finance minister Christian Lindner will end his political career following a disastrous election result that was projected to see his Liberal Democrats party drop out of parliament.

The leader of Germany's free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP), ex-finance minister Christian Lindner, said on Sunday that he will retire from politics if the party fails to make it into parliament.

Former German finance minister Christian Lindner has announced his retirement from politics after his Free Democratic Party (FDP) appeared to fail to reach the 5% threshold needed to enter the German parliament in Sunday's national election.

While the far right made historic gains in Germany’s pivotal federal elections on Sunday, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party ultimately thrived with Friedrich Merz securing nearly 29% of the vote and placing him in the top spot to lead the country.

Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now on course to win 20.5% of the vote, according to latest projections - but there is no way Friedrich Merz will work with it because of a long-standing political taboo against working with the far right, known as a Brandmauer - a firewall.

AfD set for strongest result ever while incumbent chancellor’s SPD on track for worst-ever outcome in fourth snap election in country’s history