Modi congratulates Merkel, wants stronger Indo-German bonds

New Delhi [India], Mar. 21 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Angela Merkel on assuming office as the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany for the fourth successive term.

Modi, who made a phone call to congratulate Merkel, also asserted his commitment to continue working with her to further strengthen Indo-German relationships.

Angela Merkel was re-elected to the German Parliament for a record fourth term on March 14, ending almost six months of political uncertainty.

According to CNN, last year's German Federal election saw voters desert the two mainstream parties, Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), turning instead to parties on the left and right.

The CDU received a boost when the SPD agreed to form a "grand coalition" government with them. The agreement by the SPD guaranteed Merkel a fourth term in office.

364 of the German Parliament's (Bundestag) 709 members voted in favour of Merkel in the secret ballot, nine more than the 50 percent required for being elected. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI