Crucial euro ballot may jeopardize Merkel govt

The junior party in Germanys governing coalition is awaiting the result of a ballot on rebels calls to turn against the permanent eurozone rescue fund a move that could destabilize Chancellor Angela Merkels government.Results of the Free Democratic Partys internal ballot of its members were due on Friday.Dissenters in the struggling pro-market party forced the ballot on whether it should support the €500 billion ($650 billion) European Stability Mechanism, which is due to start work next year.Leaders support the fund. One FDP minister has questioned whether the governing coalition could continue to work if its members voted against it.Its unclear how the ballot will go and whether enough members voted to make whatever decision emerges valid at least 21,499 of the 65,000 party members.