With Merkel's Elevation to Chancellor, History Made in Germany

Angela Merkel became German chancellor today. She is the first woman to hold the post. Perhaps even more significantly, she's the first chancellor from the former East Germany.

But all is not well, as the BBC reports:

In the Bundestag 397 MPs voted for her, but 51 members of the governing coalition voted against her.

The BBC Berlin correspondent says this is a sign of the problems she will face in the future.

Interestingly, Merkel's foreign policy proposals would move Germany closer to the U.S. That may be of little long-term significance if she proves unable to hold her fragile coalition together.