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German vote goes to third round | German vote goes to third 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 |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's candidate has failed to win an absolute majority in the second round of the presidential election in the Reichstag. | 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 final ballot must now be held after rebel votes in the ruling centre-right coalition twice deprived Christian Wulff of an outright win. | |
Mr Wulff is facing a tough challenge from Joachim Gauck, an ex-East German pastor and human rights campaigner. | Mr Wulff is facing a tough challenge from Joachim Gauck, an ex-East German pastor and human rights campaigner. |
That the vote has gone to a third round is seen as embarrassing for Mrs Merkel. | |
In the second round, Mr Wulff fell eight votes short of an absolute majority. In the first round he was 23 short. | |
The Lower Saxony state governor is nevertheless expected ultimately to win as only a simple majority is required in the third and final round. | |
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 a disaster for the embattled 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. |
A total of 1,244 elected representatives take part in the secret ballot of the electoral college. Half are federal legislators and half state-parliament nominees. | |
In the first round Mr Wulff - who is deputy leader of Mrs Merkel's Christian Democratic party - 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 either voted against Mr Wulff or abstained. | |
Mr Wulff secured 615 votes in the second round, compared with 490 for Mr Gauck. | |
Lukrezia Jochimsen, from the far-left Die Linke party, was a distant third in both votes. | |
Our correspondent says Mr Gauck is popular and widely respected; he is a non-partisan human rights campaigner who did much to expose the crimes of the East German secret police, the Stasi. | |
Since coming to power last October, Mrs Merkel's coalition has had to tackle the eurozone debt crisis. | 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. | He stood down amid criticism after he appeared to suggest German troops abroad were defending Berlin's economic interests. |