Berlin, March 14: Putting an end to nearly six months of political drift in Europe’s biggest economy, 63-year old Angela Merkel has been re-elected for her fourth term as chancellor by Germany’s parliament. Merkel, who is due to be sworn-in on Wednesday will head a much-changed new Cabinet. The parliamentary lower house voted in favour of her 364-315 - paving the way for Merkel's fourth term at the helm.

Merkel received standing ovations, handshakes and bouquets from delegates across the political arena, congratulating for her fourth term in office.  As per reports, the German lawmakers voted 364-315 on Wednesday to re-elect Merkel, who ran unopposed. To recall, the coalition of Merkel’s conservative Christian Democratic Union, its Bavaria-only sister party, the Christian Social Union and the centre-left Social Democrats has 399 seats.

To be re-elected, Merkel needed the support of a majority of all lawmakers. This means she had to win at least 355 votes to come into power again.  Reports inform that in a secret ballot, 364 of the Bundestag's 709 members voted in favour of Merkel -- nine more than the 50% required.

According to a report by CNN, Merkel will first travel to the Berlin residence of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to be officially nominated before returning to the Bundestag to be sworn in as Chancellor later on Wednesday.

Angela is a German politician serving as Chancellor of Germany since 2005 and leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 2000. Merkel has been widely described as the de facto leader of the European Union, the most powerful woman in the world, and the leader of the Free World. Since October 24, 2017 she and her Cabinet continue as the acting government until a new government is formed.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2018 03:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).