Germany's newly elected Federal Assembly (Bundestag) holds the fisrt meeting in Berlin, Oct. 18, 2005.

German Chancellor-designated Angela Merkel (L) congratulates Norbert Lammert, Oct. 18, 2005.

    BERLIN, Oct. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Germany's newly-elected parliament has chosen Norbert Lammert of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)as its new president to chair its sessions on Tuesday as Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder ends his seven-year-old coalition.

    Lammert was elected unopposed by clear majority of 564 among 614 deputies in the Bundestag, or the lower house of parliament. He functions as speaker of parliament and ranks as Germany's second-highest official behind Federal President Horst Koehler.

    The Schroeder government will stay as caretaker before a grand coalition government under designated chancellor Angela Merkel of the CDU.

    The CDU and Schroeder's Social Democratic Party (SPD) are negotiating over policies and formation of the grand coalition.

    The right to nominate Lammert fell to the conservative CDU and its partner, the Christian Social Union (CSU) because they won the most seats in last month's election. Enditem