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Germany coalition talks: SPD backs talks with Merkel | Germany coalition talks: SPD backs talks with Merkel |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Germany's Social Democrats (SDP) have voted for coalition negotiations with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, their former coalition partners. | Germany's Social Democrats (SDP) have voted for coalition negotiations with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, their former coalition partners. |
Earlier this month the two groupings agreed a blueprint for formal talks. | Earlier this month the two groupings agreed a blueprint for formal talks. |
Mrs Merkel's centre-right CDU and its Bavarian CSU ally have been unable to form a government since September's inconclusive election. | Mrs Merkel's centre-right CDU and its Bavarian CSU ally have been unable to form a government since September's inconclusive election. |
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 94 seats in parliament. | The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 94 seats in parliament. |
Initially the SPD ruled out governing with Mrs Merkel in charge again. But leader Martin Schulz changed his mind after CDU/CSU coalition talks with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens broke down. | Initially the SPD ruled out governing with Mrs Merkel in charge again. But leader Martin Schulz changed his mind after CDU/CSU coalition talks with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens broke down. |
In preparatory talks earlier this month, the parties overcame key sticking points on issues such as migration. | In preparatory talks earlier this month, the parties overcame key sticking points on issues such as migration. |
Merkel's sigh of relief | |
Jenny Hill in Berlin | |
It's fair to assume Angela Merkel permitted herself a sigh of relief this evening. | |
Nevertheless the poker face was on for the cameras as she gave a brief statement welcoming the Social Democrats' decision to approve formal coalition talks. This is her last realistic shot at forming a government and avoiding fresh elections. | |
It is far from a done deal. Many Social Democrats blame Mrs Merkel for a poor election result in September and there is still significant opposition within the party to another four years as her junior coalition partner. | |
If and when talks produce a formal agreement, all 440,000 members will be asked - via a postal ballot - to approve the deal. Mrs Merkel isn't out of the woods just yet. But she is a step closer to delivering the government, the stability she promised. | |
They agreed to limit asylum-seeker arrivals to about 200,000 annually and may also cap at 1,000 a month the number of migrants who will be allowed to join relatives living in Germany. | They agreed to limit asylum-seeker arrivals to about 200,000 annually and may also cap at 1,000 a month the number of migrants who will be allowed to join relatives living in Germany. |
Afterwards Mrs Merkel and Mr Schulz said they were optimistic a new "grand coalition" could be formed and spoke of a "fresh start" for Germany. | Afterwards Mrs Merkel and Mr Schulz said they were optimistic a new "grand coalition" could be formed and spoke of a "fresh start" for Germany. |
Both stressed the need to ensure Germany's "social cohesion" amid tensions over the influx of asylum seekers. | Both stressed the need to ensure Germany's "social cohesion" amid tensions over the influx of asylum seekers. |
German official figures show that 280,000 asylum seekers arrived in 2016, a drop of more than 600,000 on the total for 2015. Arrivals fell after EU countries and Turkey tightened border controls. | German official figures show that 280,000 asylum seekers arrived in 2016, a drop of more than 600,000 on the total for 2015. Arrivals fell after EU countries and Turkey tightened border controls. |
However, the huge number of 2015 arrivals - many of them Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans fleeing war - created a major integration problem for German authorities. | However, the huge number of 2015 arrivals - many of them Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans fleeing war - created a major integration problem for German authorities. |