Germany: Angela Merkel reelected as Chancellor

The German Bundestag has re-elected Angela Merkel as the country's chancellor on Wednesday. She received 364 out of 688 valid votes in the 709-member Bundestag.

Since the parties comprising the coalition government - the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) - have 399 seats in the Bundestag, Merkel was sure to be re-elected as she needed to gain 355 votes.

"Do you accept the vote?" Bundestag Speaker Wolfgang Schauble asked Merkel after the results had been announced. "Yes, I accept the vote," she answered. Schauble wished the newly elected chancellor "success and luck in resolving serious issues."

At 12:30 local time, Merkel will travel to Schloss Bellevue to receive a letter of appointment from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and then will return to the...