Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel formally embarked on a second term on Wednesday, at the head of a new coalition pledging to make Europe's biggest economy emerge stronger from the financial crisis.
Following her general election victory on September 27, a majority of German lawmakers voted for a second term for Merkel, with 323 in favour, 285 against and four abstentions.
"I accept the result and thank you for your trust," she said, as lawmakers applauded and presented her with bouquets of flowers in the main chamber of the Reichstag parliament building.
Merkel, now 55, became Germany's first female chancellor in 2005 as well as its first leader from the former communist East Germany, and its youngest.
In last month's general elections, Merkel, was able to ditch her previous partners, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), for a tie-up of her conservatives with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP).
The new government has pledged to make Germany, accounting for a third of eurozone output, emerge from the global downturn in better shape than before the financial crisis sent it into its worst recession since World War II.
It has promised USD 35.6 billion dollars worth of
The new government has pledged to make Germany, accounting for a third of eurozone output, emerge from the global downturn in better shape than before the financial crisis sent it into its worst recession since World War II.
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