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| Merkel 'prefers new vote' after German coalition talks fail | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she would prefer new elections to leading a minority government, after a breakdown in coalition talks plunged the country into political crisis. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she would prefer new elections to leading a minority government, after a breakdown in coalition talks plunged the country into political crisis. |
| She also said she did not see any reason to resign from her post despite the failed negotiations. | She also said she did not see any reason to resign from her post despite the failed negotiations. |
| On Sunday evening, the FDP liberals pulled out of talks with Mrs Merkel's CDU/CSU bloc and the Greens. | On Sunday evening, the FDP liberals pulled out of talks with Mrs Merkel's CDU/CSU bloc and the Greens. |
| Germany's president called on parties to "reconsider their attitudes". | |
| Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged them to make compromises for Germany's "well-being", amid a situation he said was unprecedented. | |
| Mrs Merkel faces her biggest challenge in 12 years as chancellor. | Mrs Merkel faces her biggest challenge in 12 years as chancellor. |
| "The path to the formation of a government is proving harder than any of us had wished for," she told broadcaster ARD. | "The path to the formation of a government is proving harder than any of us had wished for," she told broadcaster ARD. |
| But she said she was "very sceptical" about a minority government, adding that "new elections would be the better path". | But she said she was "very sceptical" about a minority government, adding that "new elections would be the better path". |
| Some in her party still hope for another grand coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD), despite that party repeatedly ruling such an option out. | Some in her party still hope for another grand coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD), despite that party repeatedly ruling such an option out. |
| Earlier on Monday, SPD leader Martin Schulz said his party was "not afraid of new elections". | Earlier on Monday, SPD leader Martin Schulz said his party was "not afraid of new elections". |
| 'Politicians have a responsibility' | |
| When asked about the prospect of another alliance with the SPD in a separate interview with broadcaster ZDF, Mrs Merkel said she would wait to see what came of upcoming talks between President Steinmeier and party leaders. | |
| However, she said a demand for her to resign would not make a positive start for a new coalition. | |
| If fresh elections are to happen, they would need to be called by Mr Steinmeier, after a long drawn-out process that would take months. | |
| But he appears to view new polls as a last resort. In a brief address earlier on Monday he told politicians they had a responsibility that could not just be handed back to voters. | |
| "Inside our country, but also outside, in particular in our European neighbourhood, there would be concern and a lack of understanding if politicians in the biggest and economically strongest country [in Europe] did not live up to their responsibilities," he said in a statement. | |
| Mrs Merkel's bloc won September's poll, but many voters deserted the mainstream parties. | Mrs Merkel's bloc won September's poll, but many voters deserted the mainstream parties. |
| Negotiations between the pro-market FDP, the Greens and the conservative CDU/CSU bloc had gone on for four weeks before the FDP's surprise withdrawal late on Sunday. | Negotiations between the pro-market FDP, the Greens and the conservative CDU/CSU bloc had gone on for four weeks before the FDP's surprise withdrawal late on Sunday. |
| Mrs Merkel blamed the FDP for the collapse, saying that the parties were on the "home straight" when the liberals pulled out. | |
| But FDP leader Christian Lindner has defended his party, saying it "did not take such a decision lightly". | |
| Despite Mrs Merkel's words, analysts say the new elections would be likely to benefit the anti-Islam, anti-immigrant AfD most, so other parties would probably try to avoid them. | |
| The far-right AfD won 12.6% of the vote in the September elections, entering parliament for the first time with more than 90 seats. |