GERMANY-POLITICS-GOVERNMENT
German President Joachim Gauck (10th L) poses with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (9th L) and members of her new cabinet (L-R) German Chief of Staff Peter Altmaier, German Development Minister Gerd Mueller, German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt, German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks, German Agriculture Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, German Labour and Social Minister Andrea Nahles, (11th L-R) German Vice Chancellor, Economy and Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Justice Minister Heiko Maas, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble (in the wheelchair), German Heath Minister Hermann Groehe, German Education and Research Minister Johanna Wanka and German Family Minister Manuela Schwesig during a hand-over ceremony of certificates of appointment on December 17, 2013 in Berlin. Angela Merkel was sworn in for a rare third term as German chancellor, capping months of political uncertainty as she bartered with her rivals to help govern Europe's top economy. The ceremony and later swearing-in of ministers followed by the first cabinet meeting will enable Merkel to finally get back down to business in earnest after the longest government-building period since World War II. AFP PHOTO / JOHN MACDOUGALL
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