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German vote goes to third round | |
(about 1 hour 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 |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's candidate has failed to win an absolute majority in the second round of the presidential election in the Reichstag. | |
A third ballot must now be held after rebel votes in the ruling centre-right coalition deprived Christian Wulff of an outright win in two previous rounds. | |
Mr Wulff is facing a tough challenge from Joachim Gauck, an ex-East German pastor and human rights campaigner. | |
The vote is being seen as a test of Mrs Merkel's authority. | |
Although the president has little power and the role is largely symbolic, 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. |
There can be up to three ballots if the first does not give a candidate an absolute majority. A simple majority would suffice in the final ballot. | |
Voting takes place in a secret ballot by an electoral college. | |
A total of 1,244 elected representatives take part. Half are federal legislators and half state-parliament nominees. | |
In the first round Mr Wulff fell 23 votes short of an absolute majority, taking 600 votes to Mr Gauck's 499. | |
That result indicated 44 delegates from Mrs Merkel's camp had 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. | |
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. |
Since coming to power last October, Mrs Merkel's 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 stood down amid criticism after he appeared to suggest German troops abroad were defending Berlin's economic interests. |