German lawmakers narrowly vote for Angela Merkel to serve fourth term as Chancellor

Angela Merkel has been sworn in for a fourth term as German Chancellor after a close vote on Wednesday by Germany's parliament. Since the national popular election last September, Merkel has struggled to form a coalition to form a government, but eventually joined forces with the Social Democrats. However, she still faces resistance from SPD members, many of whom are still unhappy with the prospect of another four years of a grand coalition. Merkel embarks on her fourth term amid a fractious European Union, as well as a potential trade war with an increasingly protectionist United States.