The fourth time of Angela Merkel can start. Six months after the vote, the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) has granted confidence in the chancellor, confirming her at the helm of the country for the fourth consecutive term after those of 2005, 2009 and 2013.
Unlike what happens in Italy when a government is formed, in Germany the chancellor is proposed to Parliament by the Federal President and is then elected by Parliament. Merkel will now meet German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, from whom she will receive the formal appointment as chancellor, then she will return to Parliament for the oath.
Once again the government will be based on the "Grosse Coalitionbetween Christian Democrats/Christian Social Democrats (CDU-CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD). The path that led to the agreement was long and complex due to the uncertain outcome of the latest German elections, which took place in September, and del sinking of negotiations to create the "Jamaika-Koalition", which would have seen the Liberal Democrats and the Greens enter the majority in place of the SPD.
Unprecedented difficulties in the history of the Federal Republic, which were confirmed by the numbers obtained by the chancellor, lower than expected also due to the secret ballot. 355 votes were needed to gain the confidence of the Bundestag: Merkel collected 364, i.e. 9 more than necessary, but 35 less than expected, given that in theory the coalition could count on 399 votes.
On Tuesday the chancellor had signed the alliance agreement with the acting chairman of the Social Democrats, Olaf Scholz, and with the leader of the Bavarian Christian Socialists, Horst Seehofer. Scholz, future finance minister, assured that the agreement "will make Germany and Europe grow". Seehofer spoke instead of a government "for the little people".
If Merkel also completes this term, she will match Helmut Kohl's record, who remained in charge of Germany for 16 years, from 1982 to 1998.
