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German parliament confirms Angel Merkel for new term German parliament confirms Angel Merkel for new term
(35 minutes later)
Angela Merkel has been confirmed as German chancellor for a third term, at the head of a grand coalition, by a vote in parliament. Angela Merkel has been confirmed as German chancellor for a third term, at the head of a grand coalition, by a vote in the Bundestag (parliament).
Her centre-right CDU/CSU bloc fell short of an overall majority in September's polls and will share power with the Social Democrats (SDP). The coalition between her centre-right CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats (SPD) has a huge majority, with 504 of the 631 seats in the lower house.
The SPD's membership voted on Sunday to back the coalition with its old rival. Mrs Merkel was confirmed by 462 votes, with nine abstentions.
A national minimum wage will be brought in but Germany's tough stance on fiscal discipline is unlikely to change. Germany's tough stance on fiscal discipline is unlikely to change under the new coalition.
Under the coalition deal signed last month, a minimum hourly rate of 8.50 euros (£7.11; $11.55) will come into force for the first time in 2015. The SPD's membership voted on Sunday to back the coalition after painstaking negotiations.
The party hammered out a minimum national wage, an hourly rate of 8.50 euros (£7.11; $11.55) that will come into force for the first time in 2015.
The new government will be slightly to the left of the previous one, in which the Christian Democrats/Christian Social Union were in coalition with the market-oriented Free Democrats (FDP), the BBC's Steve Evans reports from Berlin.The new government will be slightly to the left of the previous one, in which the Christian Democrats/Christian Social Union were in coalition with the market-oriented Free Democrats (FDP), the BBC's Steve Evans reports from Berlin.
But the SPD will form a minority part of the government and no-one doubts that Chancellor Merkel will be in charge, our correspondent says.But the SPD will form a minority part of the government and no-one doubts that Chancellor Merkel will be in charge, our correspondent says.
As the EU's most industrialised and populous state, with its biggest economy, Germany dominates decision-making for the eurozone.As the EU's most industrialised and populous state, with its biggest economy, Germany dominates decision-making for the eurozone.
New facesNew faces
Mrs Merkel received 462 votes out of 621 in the Bundestag (parliament) on Tuesday. For Tuesday's vote, 621 members of the Bundestag were present, of whom 150 voted against Mrs Merkel.
The talks to forge the new coalition were the longest for any German government since since World War 2. Between them, the Left Party and the Greens have 127 seats, so at least 23 of those who rejected her nomination were from the parties making up the new coalition.
The coalition talks had been the longest for any German government since since World War 2.
The CDU/CSU and SPD finally signed the deal, a 185-page agreement entitled "Shaping Germany's Future", late last month.The CDU/CSU and SPD finally signed the deal, a 185-page agreement entitled "Shaping Germany's Future", late last month.
Mrs Merkel was obliged to turn to the SPD after the FDP failed to win any seats in the 22 September election, falling short of the 5% hurdle to enter the Bundestag.Mrs Merkel was obliged to turn to the SPD after the FDP failed to win any seats in the 22 September election, falling short of the 5% hurdle to enter the Bundestag.
Trusted Merkel ally Wolfgang Schaeuble will remain finance minister in the new government, one of 10 CDU/CSU politicians in the 16-strong cabinet.Trusted Merkel ally Wolfgang Schaeuble will remain finance minister in the new government, one of 10 CDU/CSU politicians in the 16-strong cabinet.
"His name stands for euro stability and I'm glad that he's continuing," Mrs Merkel said after news of the new line-up emerged."His name stands for euro stability and I'm glad that he's continuing," Mrs Merkel said after news of the new line-up emerged.
Other CDU/CSU picks include Ursula von der Leyen as defence minister and Thomas de Maiziere as interior minister.Other CDU/CSU picks include Ursula von der Leyen as defence minister and Thomas de Maiziere as interior minister.
For the SPD, party chairman Sigmar Gabriel will become economy minister and deputy chancellor, while Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be foreign minister.For the SPD, party chairman Sigmar Gabriel will become economy minister and deputy chancellor, while Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be foreign minister.