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Germany to confirm new chancellor |
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Tuesday, 22 November 2005The German parliament is due to elect the leader of the conservative Christian Democrats, Angela Merkel, as the country's new chancellor.
She will head a coalition government with the former governing party, the Social Democrats.
Mrs Merkel will be the first woman chancellor - and the first to have grown up in the former communist eastern part of the country.
Her foreign policy stance is more pro-US than her predecessor.
Social Democrat Gerhard Schroeder opposed the war in Iraq and proclaimed what he called Germany's emancipation from the US.
Reforms
Mrs Merkel has pledged to overhaul the faltering German economy.
The parties have agreed to work to cut Germany's budget deficit with spending cuts and moderate tax increases.
But plans to cut taxes for high earners have been shelved, as have plans to liberalise employment law and introduce regional wage negotiations.
The BBC's William Horsley says there is less disagreement over foreign affairs, where Mrs Merkel hopes to smooth relations with the US, boost Germany's profile within Nato and promote fair dealing within the European Union.
But she has been forced to make concessions to trade unions and accept Social Democrats in key cabinet roles.
Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrat (CDU) party, along with Bavarian ally the Christian Social Union (CSU), were denied a clear majority in September's elections.
SPD power
The new "grand coalition" of left and right boasts broad support within the Bundestag, or parliament.
With 448 seats, Mrs Merkel is expected to pass the threshold of 308 votes needed to be confirmed as chancellor.
But correspondents say her power is likely to be diluted, as SPD figures will run a string of key ministries.
The SPD has the top jobs in eight ministries, including those of foreign affairs, finance and labour.
The CDU and its partners from the CSU head six ministries, including defence and economic affairs.
Their eight cabinet posts include that of the chancellor herself and one other minister in her office.
Mr Schroeder has announced he will resign his parliamentary seat after the vote as he prepares for a life outside high-profile politics.
BBC News
November 22, 2005 |
Tuesday, 22 November 2005
BBC News
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