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Mixed response to Merkel victory

DUBAI — The German expatriate community in Dubai expressed mixed feelings on the news of Angela Merkel becoming their first female Chancellor.

Merkel's Conservative CDU party won only 34 per cent of the German electorate with 33 per cent going to the opposing incumbent SDP party. This tiny margin has forced Merkel to form a grand coalition with the SDP, winning her the chancellorship, but forcing her to staff the government with her opponents. Overall there was a cautious response to her victory.

Petra Meuller, Director of Merchant E-Media in the city, was in a minority with her thoughts. She couldn't hide her enthusiasm.

"I think its gorgeous. The economy has had problems, and she has been elected to try and put it right," she said. "She's the first women Chancellor, but she is also East German, where they lay great emphasis on education. I hope this will help improve the education system," she added.

Jeanette Klaua, from Dubai, took the opposite view. "I don't think it is a particularly good thing because with a coalition it is harder to achieve anything," she said. "It would have been better if there had been one clear winner," she added.

Willi Diener, from Dubai, but speaking from Germany, was undecided whether Merkel's appointment will have a positive or negative impact on the country. "I've know idea. We'll have to wait and see what she does," he said.