Obama congratulates Merkel on resounding win

President Barack Obama called German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday to congratulate her re-election as her Christian Democratic Union party scored a resounding victory in parliamentary elections.

"The United States and Germany are close allies, and partner together around the world to promote freedom, security and prosperity," the White House said in a release Sunday evening. "The President and Chancellor Merkel agreed that with the election of a strong German government, our cooperation will further strengthen and deepen. The President looks forward to continued close cooperation with Chancellor Merkel to address our common challenges in the years ahead."

The margin of victory will allow Merkel to abandon the centre-Left Social Democrats in her ruling coalition and ally with the pro-business Free Democrats for a more stable government.

The German election was largely shaped by economic woes stemming from the country's emergence from the greatest recession since World War II, but Merkel will play a key role in how Obama's foreign policy will play out in his term. The most powerful woman in the world, as hailed by Forbes, is pro-Israel and tough on Iran, and the P5+1 talks with Iran set for Oct. 1 include the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany.