Merkel elected to second term

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday won the center-right majority that eluded her four years ago — nudging Europe’s biggest economic power to the right as it claws its way out of a deep recession.

Voters sent the nation’s main left-wing party, the Social Democrats of Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, into opposition after 11 years as part of the government. It was the party’s worst parliamentary election result since World War II.

“There is no talking around it: this is a bitter defeat,” a subdued Steinmeier said, vowing to lead a strong opposition.

The conservative Merkel managed to end her four-year “grand coalition” with the Social Democrats thanks to a very strong showing by her new coalition partner, the pro-business Free Democrats. Her own Christian Democrats produced an underwhelming showing.

“Tonight we can really celebrate,” said a beaming Merkel, greeted by chants of “Angie! Angie!” from supporters. “[But] there are many problems in our country to be solved.”

Projections by the nation’s public broadcasters, based on partial vote counts, put support for Merkel’s Christian Democrats at up to 33.8 percent of the vote and for the Social Democrats at about 23 percent. The Free Democrats captured nearly 15 percent, the Left Party had 12 percent or more and the Greens above 10 percent.

Both ARD and ZDF television channels said that would produce a stable center-right majority in parliament. It was a major shift from the 2005 election, in which Merkel’s conservatives just squeaked by the Social Democrats.

The White House said President Barack Obama called Merkel to congratulate her and “looks forward to continued close cooperation” with her. French President Nicolas Sarkozy also congratulated her.

Merkel’s second four-year term will be markedly different from her first, in which she presided over a middle-of-the-road government that was fractious but enjoyed a huge parliamentary majority.

Merkel’s popularity has been fueled by her consensual approach. She will now lead a narrower coalition with a stronger opposition and a self-confident new partner but suggested that she will stick to her own style.

A key challenge for the new government will be to work toward a strategy for the eventual withdrawal of the more than 4,200 German troops in Afghanistan, a mission that has become increasingly unpopular.

Al-Qaida and Taliban militants have threatened Germany over its involvement in Afghanistan, prompting increased security ahead of the election.