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Merkel faces tough electoral test | Merkel faces tough electoral test |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Mrs Merkel's tough austerity measures have been unpopular | Mrs Merkel's tough austerity measures have been unpopular |
Voting has begun for a new German president in what is being seen as a test of the popularity of Chancellor Angela Merkel's government. | |
The role is largely ceremonial but the election may also become a verdict on her raft of austerity measures. | |
Her candidate, Christian Wulff, faces a strong challenge from former East German rights activist Joachim Gauck. | |
The president is chosen in an electoral college secret ballot. The result should be known on Wednesday afternoon. | |
A total of 1,244 elected representatives take part in the ballot. | |
Eurozone crisis | Eurozone crisis |
The president has little power and the role is largely symbolic. | The president has little power and the role is largely symbolic. |
But the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin says a win for Mr Gauck would be considered a major blow to Mrs Merkel. | But the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Berlin says a win for Mr Gauck would be considered a major blow to Mrs Merkel. |
The election has turned into a vote of confidence in Mrs Merkel's leadership. If Mr Wulff loses, her government could be in trouble | The election has turned into a vote of confidence in Mrs Merkel's leadership. If Mr Wulff loses, her government could be in trouble |
Read Gavin's thoughts in full | Read Gavin's thoughts in full |
She is under increasing pressure over her government's package of austerity measures and because of infighting in the cabinet, our correspondent says. | She is under increasing pressure over her government's package of austerity measures and because of infighting in the cabinet, our correspondent says. |
Her candidate is Lower Saxony state governor Christian Wulff, deputy leader of her Christian Democratic party. | Her candidate is Lower Saxony state governor Christian Wulff, deputy leader of her Christian Democratic party. |
He remains the favourite to win as Mrs Merkel's ruling coalition enjoys a majority in the electoral college. | He remains the favourite to win as Mrs Merkel's ruling coalition enjoys a majority in the electoral college. |
But Mr Gauck is a strong challenger - a non-partisan human rights campaigner who did much to expose the crimes of the East German secret police, the Stasi. | But Mr Gauck is a strong challenger - a non-partisan human rights campaigner who did much to expose the crimes of the East German secret police, the Stasi. |
Our correspondent says Mr Gauck is both popular and widely respected - with even some members of Chancellor Merkel's own coalition saying they might vote for him. | Our correspondent says Mr Gauck is both popular and widely respected - with even some members of Chancellor Merkel's own coalition saying they might vote for him. |
Since coming to power last October, the coalition has had to tackle the eurozone debt crisis. | Since coming to power last October, the coalition has had to tackle the eurozone debt crisis. |
This has led to rescue packages for European partners that have been deeply unpopular in Germany. | This has led to rescue packages for European partners that have been deeply unpopular in Germany. |
The presidential election was called after Horst Koehler stepped down on 31 May. | The presidential election was called after Horst Koehler stepped down on 31 May. |
He was said to be uncomfortable over criticism of an interview he gave on the role of the German military. | He was said to be uncomfortable over criticism of an interview he gave on the role of the German military. |