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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Germany's Merkel begins new term | Germany's Merkel begins new term |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Germany's new coalition government has been sworn in after Chancellor Angela Merkel was formally re-elected for a second term by MPs. | |
| The new coalition government is made up of Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrat CDU/CSU and the Free Democrats (FDP). | The new coalition government is made up of Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrat CDU/CSU and the Free Democrats (FDP). |
| It has already promised controversial tax cuts in an effort to boost growth and kick-start the economy. | It has already promised controversial tax cuts in an effort to boost growth and kick-start the economy. |
| But the idea of tax cuts has already been condemned by Germany's opposition parties and some regional governors. | But the idea of tax cuts has already been condemned by Germany's opposition parties and some regional governors. |
| President Horst Koehler urged the coalition to be proactive about European relations and integration. | |
| He said: "Germany should be one of the nations that actively contributes to moving Europe forward,", Associated Press reported. | |
| Mrs Merkel was voted in by 323 MPs with 285 against the nomination and four abstaining. | Mrs Merkel was voted in by 323 MPs with 285 against the nomination and four abstaining. |
| As she was applauded and presented with flowers, she said: "I accept the result and thank you for your trust," the AFP news agency reported. | As she was applauded and presented with flowers, she said: "I accept the result and thank you for your trust," the AFP news agency reported. |
| She was later formally sworn in. | She was later formally sworn in. |
| Preferred partners | Preferred partners |
| The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin says the last time Mrs Merkel took the oath of office, in 2005, she was in a weaker position. | The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin says the last time Mrs Merkel took the oath of office, in 2005, she was in a weaker position. |
| She had been forced to share power with her centre-left opponents in an awkward grand coalition. | She had been forced to share power with her centre-left opponents in an awkward grand coalition. |
| However, our correspondent says this time around things look very different, and Mrs Merkel has developed "political muscle". | However, our correspondent says this time around things look very different, and Mrs Merkel has developed "political muscle". |
| She is popular and now able to govern with her preferred coalition partner, the liberals, he says. | She is popular and now able to govern with her preferred coalition partner, the liberals, he says. |
| But while Mrs Merkel may be stronger, the Germany economy is far weaker now than it was four years ago, our correspondent says. | But while Mrs Merkel may be stronger, the Germany economy is far weaker now than it was four years ago, our correspondent says. |
| And the new coalition's plans are controversial. | And the new coalition's plans are controversial. |
| It wants to kick-start the economy - the largest in Europe - by cutting taxes - despite the fact that Germany's budget deficit is around 1.5 trillion euros (£1.35 trillion) and rising. | It wants to kick-start the economy - the largest in Europe - by cutting taxes - despite the fact that Germany's budget deficit is around 1.5 trillion euros (£1.35 trillion) and rising. |
| It also plans to overhaul the health system and give more help to families during the next four years. | It also plans to overhaul the health system and give more help to families during the next four years. |