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Germany coalition: Merkel courts SPD as pivotal talks begin | Germany coalition: Merkel courts SPD as pivotal talks begin |
(about 1 hour later) | |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will launch a new round of coalition talks on Sunday in a bid to end the country's political stalemate. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel will launch a new round of coalition talks on Sunday in a bid to end the country's political stalemate. |
More than three months after its election, Germany is still without a new government. | More than three months after its election, Germany is still without a new government. |
The five-day talks will include Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), her allies the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democrats (SPD). | The five-day talks will include Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), her allies the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democrats (SPD). |
Many see this as her last chance to form a stable coalition. | |
The centre-left SPD has governed jointly with the chancellor's centre-right party for eight of the last 12 years. But a historically poor poll result in September saw SPD leader Martin Schulz vow to take the Social Democrats into opposition. | The centre-left SPD has governed jointly with the chancellor's centre-right party for eight of the last 12 years. But a historically poor poll result in September saw SPD leader Martin Schulz vow to take the Social Democrats into opposition. |
Pressure has mounted on the SPD since November, when Mrs Merkel failed to cobble together a coalition with the liberal FDP and the Greens. | Pressure has mounted on the SPD since November, when Mrs Merkel failed to cobble together a coalition with the liberal FDP and the Greens. |
The chancellor must now convince SPD leaders that they have enough common goals to start formal coalition negotiations by March or April. | The chancellor must now convince SPD leaders that they have enough common goals to start formal coalition negotiations by March or April. |
European Union allies, such as France, see Germany as a pillar of stability in the bloc and will be hoping she succeeds. | |
What are the sticking points? | What are the sticking points? |
Immigration, Europe, tax, and healthcare could all become points of contention. | Immigration, Europe, tax, and healthcare could all become points of contention. |
Within the SPD, there are fears that reforming the grand coalition would cost the party yet more support. The party's poll ratings are down and some centre-left critics argue the SPD has given up its core principles to cling to power with Mrs Merkel. | |
The chancellor faces similar censure from conservatives, who say she has abandoned traditional values and driven voters towards the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is now represented in the federal parliament for the first time. | The chancellor faces similar censure from conservatives, who say she has abandoned traditional values and driven voters towards the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is now represented in the federal parliament for the first time. |
Analysis: A government by Easter? | Analysis: A government by Easter? |
By Damien McGuinness, BBC Berlin correspondent | By Damien McGuinness, BBC Berlin correspondent |
More than three months have passed since the elections - the longest period of coalition-building Germany has ever known. | More than three months have passed since the elections - the longest period of coalition-building Germany has ever known. |
It's not a crisis. And there is a caretaker government. But it does mean that important decisions about the future of Germany, and the EU, are on hold. | It's not a crisis. And there is a caretaker government. But it does mean that important decisions about the future of Germany, and the EU, are on hold. |
So pressure is building to form a coalition. If talks go well, a government could be in place by Easter. | So pressure is building to form a coalition. If talks go well, a government could be in place by Easter. |
There will be disagreements, such as on refugees or taxation. But there are also common interests. And none of the parties like the idea of the alternatives to a coalition deal: either an unstable minority government, or fresh elections - which would mean a long period of uncertainty. | There will be disagreements, such as on refugees or taxation. But there are also common interests. And none of the parties like the idea of the alternatives to a coalition deal: either an unstable minority government, or fresh elections - which would mean a long period of uncertainty. |
Will the talks succeed? | Will the talks succeed? |
Top leaders from the three potential allies met on 3 January to discuss preliminary issues, and have sounded an optimistic note since then. | |
"Confidence has grown, and we go into the talks with optimism," a joint declaration said. | "Confidence has grown, and we go into the talks with optimism," a joint declaration said. |
SPD Chairman Mr Schulz spoke of a "very focused, meaningful debate". | |
Horst Seehofer of the CSU said he felt the parties would probably agree to govern together, saying: "I think we'll manage it." | Horst Seehofer of the CSU said he felt the parties would probably agree to govern together, saying: "I think we'll manage it." |
The parties have agreed to a media blackout during the talks, which will finish on 11 January. | The parties have agreed to a media blackout during the talks, which will finish on 11 January. |
If they prove successful - and the SPD's members vote to proceed - full-blown coalition talks will follow. | If they prove successful - and the SPD's members vote to proceed - full-blown coalition talks will follow. |
What happens if they fail? | What happens if they fail? |
If talks fail, Mrs Merkel could form a less stable minority government with the Greens, with SPD support. | If talks fail, Mrs Merkel could form a less stable minority government with the Greens, with SPD support. |
However, she has previously said she would prefer a fresh election to that eventuality. | However, she has previously said she would prefer a fresh election to that eventuality. |