BREAKING NEWS

Merkel re-elected to CDU party chair with 89.5% of vote

ESSEN, Germany - German Chancellor Angela Merkel won re-election as chairwoman of her Christian Democrats (CDU) on Tuesday with 89.5 percent of votes cast by just under 1,000 party delegates, giving her a boost as she seeks a fourth term in office next year.
The endorsement fell short of the 96.7 percent Merkel won when she was last re-elected two years ago. Her decision last year to open Germany's doors to some 1 million migrants sapped some grassroots support and has dented the CDU's poll ratings.
Merkel's lowest winning score in election as chairwoman was 88.4% in 2004. The CDU is meeting in Essen, where Merkel was first elected party chairwoman in 2000.