Merkel to remain Chancellor for now

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 27

Germany threw up a hung Parliament and Angela Merkel may remain caretaker Chancellor for months as parties enter into protracted negotiations to form a coalition government. In a surprise, the Left-leaning Social Democratic Party (SPD) defied opinion polls to marginally pull ahead of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU).

The pro-environment Greens and the Conservative Federal Democratic Party (FDP) have emerged as kingmakers and both may join a federal government.

Experts predict weeks or even months of tough negotiations and recall that in 2017, a government was formed after six months.

Most parties – SPD, CDU-CSU (Christian Socialist Union), Green and FDP — have co-existed in coalition governments at the Centre. All parties have commonalities leading to unlikely alliances.

German party leaders held a roundtable debate after the results were apparent. SPD leader Scholz hoped he would have a coalition before Christmas, while Merkel’s replacement in the CDU, Laschet said, “The voters have given us the job to do. We’ll have to find commonalities between three political parties.”