Social Democrat predicts solid party backing for Merkel

A senior German Social Democrat today said he expected his centre-left party to show “great unity” in backing conservative Angela Merkel, its one-time opponent, as chancellor in a parliamentary vote this week.

Politicians meet tomorrow to elect Merkel, 51, as Germany’s first female leader. She will lead a “grand coalition” of her conservative bloc and the Social Democrats of outgoing Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.