German Chancellor Merkel Begins Second Term
Chancellor
Angela Merkel has been formally sworn-in for a second term after her re-election
by the German parliament.
Mrs Merkel was voted in by
323 MPs with 285 against the nomination and four abstaining.
The new coalition government is
made up of Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrat CDU/CSU and the Free Democrats (FDP).
President Horst Koehler is due
to swear in the new coalition government at a ceremony at the Reichstag in
Berlin.
Manifesto
The new government has already
promised controversial tax cuts in an effort to boost growth and kick-start the
economy.
As she was applauded and
presented with flowers, Merkel said: "I accept the result and thank you for
your trust."
The new coalition plans to
kick-start the economy, the largest in Europe, by cutting taxes, despite the
fact that Germany's budget deficit is around 1.5 trillion Euros and
rising.
It also plans to overhaul the
health system and give more help to families during the next four years.
BBC/Yinka
