The German parliament's lower house, the Bundestag, formally re-elected Christian Democratic leader Angela Merkel as chancellor on Wednesday.

Merkel, 55, received 323 'yes' votes out of 622. She needed at least 312.

"I accept this election and thank you for your trust in me," she said after the results were announced.

285 parliamentarians voted against Merkel and there were four abstentions. While the vote is secret, calculations show that apparently nine parliamentarians from Merkel's own coalition withheld their support.

Merkel, who has been chancellor since 2005, will in her second-term lead a center-right coalition of her own Christian Democrats, the Bavarian Christian Social Union and the business-friendly Free Democrats.

Also on Wednesday, Merkel and the ministers in her new cabinet are to be sworn in and the first cabinet meeting is set to take place.

Merkel presented her coalition priorities over the weekend, promising tax cuts, more funding for education and an overhaul of the health care system.

jam/AP/Reuters/epd
Editor: Nancy Isenson