German SPD Elects First Woman Leader as Divisions Linger

Germany’s Social Democrats elected the party’s first ever chairwoman, but struggled to heal divisions that span everything from Russia and the European Union to government spending.

Andrea Nahles, 47, was backed by 66 percent of delegates at a conference in the western city of Wiesbaden, a relatively poor showing for a leader meant to revive a party that posted its worst result since World War II in last year’s election. More than a quarter of the delegates cast a ballot for an insurgent candidate who had been given no chance to win.