Sworn in without pomp or celebration, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder launched his second term this evening under fire from critics who say his new economic and political agenda is much like the old too timid to cut through the nation's problems.
In the month since narrowly winning re-election, Mr Schroeder has raised an outcry with plans to squeeze more taxes out of a stagnant economy, dug in against a Bush administration angry with his opposition to invading Iraq and seen his junior partner, the Greens, hit by a leadership crisis.
"To anyone who had high expectations, it's hardly a rousing start," said Manfred Guellner, head of the Forsa opinion poll group and an occasional Schroeder adviser.
Mr Schroeder, 58, grinned broadly and received a bouquet of red and white flowers after parliament voted on the strength of his center-left majority to give him another four years.
Hours later, he and his new Cabinet team were sworn in under the Reichstag's glass dome.
But as the Social Democratic leader tersely pledged in his oath of office to work for "the welfare of the German people," economic experts slashed already weak growth forecasts and a union unveiled tough wage demands for 3 million public service workers.
Polls show that Schroeder's approval rating has slid since the elections.
PA