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German vote goes to second round | German vote goes to second round |
(40 minutes later) | |
It would be viewed as a major blow to Mrs Merkel if her candidate lost | It would be viewed as a major blow to Mrs Merkel if her candidate lost |
A first vote has taken place to elect a new German president - but has proved inconclusive. | A first vote has taken place to elect a new German president - but has proved inconclusive. |
Chancellor Angela Merkel's candidate, Christian Wulff, won most votes but not enough to win outright, and a second vote will now be held. | Chancellor Angela Merkel's candidate, Christian Wulff, won most votes but not enough to win outright, and a second vote will now be held. |
Although the president's role is mainly ceremonial, the election is being seen as a test of Mrs Merkel's authority. | Although the president's role is mainly ceremonial, the election is being seen as a test of Mrs Merkel's authority. |
Voting takes place in a secret ballot by an electoral college. The result should be known on Wednesday afternoon. | Voting takes place in a secret ballot by an electoral college. The result should be known on Wednesday afternoon. |
A total of 1,244 elected representatives take part in the ballot. Half are federal legislators and half state-parliament nominees. | A total of 1,244 elected representatives take part in the ballot. Half are federal legislators and half state-parliament nominees. |
In the first round of the German presidential election, Angela Merkel's candidate failed to get an overall majority. | In the first round of the German presidential election, Angela Merkel's candidate failed to get an overall majority. |
Christian Wulff needed 50% of the votes of German MP's and regional representatives to become president. He got less than that. | Christian Wulff needed 50% of the votes of German MP's and regional representatives to become president. He got less than that. |
What is interesting is that it seems that between 30 and 40 people from Chancellor Merkel's camp voted for the opposition candidate Joachim Gauck. | What is interesting is that it seems that between 30 and 40 people from Chancellor Merkel's camp voted for the opposition candidate Joachim Gauck. |
There will now be a second round but this result will be seen as a setback for Angela Merkel and a dent to her authority. | There will now be a second round but this result will be seen as a setback for Angela Merkel and a dent to her authority. |
Read Gavin's thoughts in full | Read Gavin's thoughts in full |
Mr Wulff faces a strong challenge from former East German rights activist Joachim Gauck. | Mr Wulff faces a strong challenge from former East German rights activist Joachim Gauck. |
In the first round Mr Wulff fell 23 votes short of an absolute majority, taking 600 votes to Mr Gauck's 499. | |
The result indicates 44 delegates from Mrs Merkel's camp either voted against Mr Wulff or abstained. | |
Lukrezia Jochimsen from the far-left Die Linke party won 126, there were 13 abstentions and far-right candidate Frank Rennicke won three votes. | |
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. |
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. |
Mr Wulff, the Lower Saxony state governor and deputy leader of her Christian Democratic party, remains the favourite to win as Mrs Merkel's ruling coalition enjoys a majority in the electoral college. | Mr Wulff, the Lower Saxony state governor and deputy leader of her Christian Democratic party, 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 said 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 said they might vote for him. |
There can be up to three ballots if the first does not give a candidate an absolute majority. A simple majority will suffice in the final ballot. | There can be up to three ballots if the first does not give a candidate an absolute majority. A simple majority will suffice in the final ballot. |
Analysts say the number of ballots it takes may in itself be seen as a comment on the popularity of Mrs Merkel's coalition. | Analysts say the number of ballots it takes may in itself be seen as a comment on the popularity of Mrs Merkel's coalition. |
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 European partners being granted rescue packages, which have been deeply unpopular in Germany. | This has led to European partners being granted rescue packages, which 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. |