New Bundestag Convenes As Old Government Is Dismissed

BERLIN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 22: German Chancellor and Chairwoman of the German Christian Democrats (CDU) Angela Merkel (2nd, R) and Chancellery Minister and member of the German Christian Democrats (CDU) Ronald Pofalla (R) chat with Sigmar Gabriel, chair of the center-left Social Democrats (2nd, L), and Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) at the first session of the new Bundestag following recent nationwide elections on October 22, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The sessions heralds the beginning of the 18th legislative period, though the German government remains in transition as the Christian Democrats (CDU) and German Social Democrats (SPD) are still in the process of coalition negotiations. (Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images)