BERLIN – Angela Merkel was sworn in Wednesday for a second term as German chancellor, a month after her party won national elections.
Merkel, 55, will serve as chancellor of a center-right government coalition of her Christian Democratic Party, its Bavaria-only sister party the Christian Social Union, and the pro-business Free Democrats.
The new coalition has promised an overhaul of the health care system, more help for families and annual tax cuts of up to euro24 billion ($36 billion).
In 2005, Merkel became the first woman to be elected as Germany's head of government. During her first term she led a grand coalition of Germany's two main parties — her conservatives and the Social Democrats.
She is the only German head of government to switch coalition partners between terms in office.
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