Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union congratulated Peter Mueller on being voted in as prime minister of Saarland state today. Mueller heads a coalition of his CDU, the Free Democratic Party and the Greens, the first such alliance in Germany’s 16 states. It is known as a Jamaica coalition after the three parties’ colors which match those of the Jamaican flag: black, yellow and green. Mueller’s experience will “guarantee that the coalition is an alliance of the center” with the best interests of Saarland at heart, CDU General Secretary Hermann Groehe said in an e-mailed statement.

Last Updated: November 10, 2009 04:38 EST