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German vote goes to third round German vote shows Merkel weakness
(40 minutes later)
It would be viewed as a major blow to Mrs Merkel if her candidate lostIt 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.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. He 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.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. Although the role of president 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.
The Lower Saxony state governor is nevertheless expected ultimately to win as only a simple majority is required in the third and final round. 'Message to Merkel'
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.
What this means is that all the behind-the-scenes arm-twisting has not been able to get the votes in for Christian Wulff. The embarrassment for Angela Merkel lies in the fact that if all the members of her coalition had voted for Wulff he would have been elected.
There will be a break and then a third round of voting. In the final round, whoever gets a simple majority will be president. The expectation has to be that Mr Wulff, the political insider from the centre-right, will win.
But the MPs and the representatives have broken for an hour, and the Reichstag has become a place of intrigue and a numbers game.
All of this eats away at Angela Merkel's credibility after a period where she has been judged to have made mistakes and lost her sureness of touch.
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 and deputy leader of Mrs Merkel's Christian Democratic Party is nevertheless expected ultimately to win as only a simple majority is required in the third and final round.
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.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. Mrs Merkel's ruling coalition has 644 seats in the special assembly, well over the 623 needed for an absolute majority.
That result indicated 44 delegates from Mrs Merkel's camp either voted against Mr Wulff or abstained. But in the first round Mr Wulff could only muster 600 votes to Mr Gauck's 499.
Mr Wulff secured 615 votes in the second round, compared with 490 for Mr Gauck. Mr Wulff secured 615 votes in the second ballot, and Mr Gauck gained 490.
The results indicate a few delegates from Mrs Merkel's camp either voted against Mr Wulff or abstained.
Lukrezia Jochimsen, from the far-left Die Linke party, was a distant third in both votes.Lukrezia Jochimsen, from the far-left Die Linke party, was a distant third in both votes.
"It is more exciting than anyone expected. It looks like a lot of people wanted to send Merkel a message," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier, parliamentary leader of the opposition centre-left Social Democrats, reports news agency Reuters.
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.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.
Mrs Merkel and her main coalition ally Guido Westerwelle, of the Free Democrats, have endured weeks of negative publicity.
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.