Merkel sworn-in for a second term

Angela Merkel will officially become German Chancellor for a second term later today. Following voting this morning, she will be officially sworn-in during a ceremony at the Bundestag.

Her re-appointment comes as no surprise. Merkel’s CDU party has formed a coalition with pro-business party, the FDP. FDP leader, Guido Westerwelle is the new Foreign Minister and will also be confirmed as Vice Chancellor. In a day of formalities, Germany’s new government will itself be sworn in. The biggest task it faces is how to pull the German economy out of its slump. Controversially, the new government plans to give 21bn euros worth of tax relief to low and middle-income families in 2010.More about: Germany

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