Conservative Christian Democrats Union (CDU) backed Chancellor Angela Merkel's bid for a fourth term as leader of Europe's biggest economy in next September's elections when they met at a party conference in the western German industrial city of Essen, dpa reported. 
However, Merkel was dealt a setback when the vote for her as CDU chief fell to 89.5 per cent, her second lowest vote since she was first elected party chief in 2000. 
She thanked the party's about 1,000 delegates for their confidence following the vote. But the decline in support underlined the hard battle she faces in the run-up to next year's election. 
Tuesday's vote was the ninth time that she has been returned as party chief during her 16 years as CDU chief.

Source: QNA