Angela Merkel has moved closer to a fourth term as German chancellor after her CDU party voted overwhelmingly in favour of renewing a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD). CDU delegates elected Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, tipped as Merkel’s successor, as CDU general secretary. They also voted 975 to 27 in favour of a grand coalition deal that was shaped last month. The party’s vote could be rendered null and void, however, should a postal vote of the SPD’s 464,000 members go against the deal. Photograph: Stefanie Loos/AFPA commentary in the newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung called Merkel’s decision to embrace her opponent her best opportunity to tame someone who has “repeatedly sought to saw at the legs of her throne”.

Source: The Guardian February 26, 2018 08:06 UTC