German lawmakers elect Merkel to fourth term as chancellor

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Reuters
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives flowers after bring re-elected as chancellor during a session of the German lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, German on March 14, 2018. Photo: REUTERS
 

BERLIN: German lawmakers voted on Wednesday to re-elect Angela Merkel as chancellor for a fourth, and likely final, a term that may prove her most challenging yet as she leads a fragile coalition with her standing diminished.

Lawmakers voted by 364 to 315, with nine abstentions, in favour of re-electing Merkel, 63.

“I accept the vote,” Merkel told the Bundestag lower house of parliament after the vote.