Berlin, November 24
Germany’s Social Democrats bowed to pressure from across the political spectrum today to help form a new government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, but pledged that party members would have final say on any deal.
The turnabout by the centre-left party, which had said it would go into opposition after suffering its worst result in 70 years in a September election, could help avert a disruptive repeat election in Europe’s economic and political powerhouse.
SPD leader Martin Schulz told a news conference that the party leadership had reached the decision out of a sense of responsibility to Germany and Europe after Sunday’s collapse of talks aimed at forming a three-way coalition.
“There is nothing automatic about the direction we are moving in,” Schulz said. “If a discussion results in us deciding to participate in any form whatsoever in the formation of a government, we will put it to a vote of party members,” he said.
Backing for a new government could come in various forms other than a coalition, including a formal agreement not to obstruct a Merkel-led minority government or an informal agreement to tolerate it.
The decision to support a government is a fraught one for party members, who saw four years of constructive participation in a Merkel-led government rewarded by voters with its worst vote share since World War-II.
Over her 12 years in power, Merkel has seen off a succession of coalition partners who then went to endure painful electoral defeats. — Reuters
German President to host talks next week
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will meet Chancellor Angela Merkel, the head of Bavaria’s conservatives, and the leader of the centre-left Social Democrats on Thursday, his office said on Friday. He played a central role in encouraging the SPD to reverse its pledge to go into opposition. The meeting will include Merkel, SPD leader Martin Schulz and Horst Seehofer, leader of the Christian Social Union, the sister party to Merkel’s Christian Democrats.