Merkel To Be German Chancellor

Three weeks after Germany's election, conservative leader Angela Merkel is set to become Germany’s first female chancellor.

Under the power-sharing agreement, Schroeder’s Social Democrats would get eight seats in the Cabinet, compared with six for Merkel’s Christian Democrats and the Christian Social Union.

The fat lady still hasn't sung in Germany the BBC reports that the power sharing agreement is only be the start of a lengthy and more detailed negotiation on the small print of future government policy. According to the Associated Press, the power sharing deal, even though approved by party leader, must still be approved by party conferences and in parliament. That process could take several more weeks.

The lengthy process of forming the just how difficult it might be for the "grand coalition" to govern. At Fruits and Votes, Matthew Shugart has explained that such a government is appropriate when the electoral results are inconclusive. Germany may need consensus-building more than decisivness, but that comes at a loss of leadership.