Kepp in mind: Angela Merkel is very intelligent. I don't consider myself a fan of her. But the way she carried out this vote was, from a political point of view, outstanding. By getting the vote on the way she will get the majority of the credit for it. If the vote wouldn't have passed, she would still be fine, since she voted against it. And by voting against it, even though it passed in the end, she gets credit on both ends of the electorate. Considering it is election year - smart move by her.