This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43276732
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Germany coalition deal: Social Democrats vote to join government | Germany coalition deal: Social Democrats vote to join government |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to form her fourth government after the opposition Social Democrats voted in favour of another grand coalition. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to form her fourth government after the opposition Social Democrats voted in favour of another grand coalition. |
| The vote by 464,000 rank-and-file members ends five months of political deadlock since September's election. | The vote by 464,000 rank-and-file members ends five months of political deadlock since September's election. |
| The Social Democrats (SPD) had been split between the party's leadership, which backed joining the coalition, and its radical youth wing, which did not. | |
| Mrs Merkel, who has been in power for 12 years, congratulated the SPD. | |
| On her party's Twitter feed. she said she "looks forward to working together again for the benefit of our country". | |
| SPD voters approved continuing the coalition with 66% in favour. Vote counting went on through the night at the party headquarters in Berlin. | |
| Interim SPD leader Olaf Scholz declared: "Now we have clarity. The SPD will enter the next government". | Interim SPD leader Olaf Scholz declared: "Now we have clarity. The SPD will enter the next government". |
| Senior Christian Democrat member, Volker Bouffier, called the result a "good day for the people in our country and positive for the future of Germany". | Senior Christian Democrat member, Volker Bouffier, called the result a "good day for the people in our country and positive for the future of Germany". |
| The chancellor now faces a range of challenges, including strong opposition from the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD). | The chancellor now faces a range of challenges, including strong opposition from the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD). |
| The anti-immigrant party entered the federal parliament for the first time in September with just over 12% of the vote and now makes up the largest opposition group. | The anti-immigrant party entered the federal parliament for the first time in September with just over 12% of the vote and now makes up the largest opposition group. |
| The SPD suffered its worst ever election result and many blamed their coalition with Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) for that poor performance. | The SPD suffered its worst ever election result and many blamed their coalition with Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) for that poor performance. |
| Mrs Merkel, who lost 65 seats in the election, had tried and failed to form an alliance with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens. | Mrs Merkel, who lost 65 seats in the election, had tried and failed to form an alliance with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens. |
| She was forced to pay a higher price for continuing the existing coalition - the new finance minister will be a Social Democrat. | She was forced to pay a higher price for continuing the existing coalition - the new finance minister will be a Social Democrat. |
| The end to uncertainty, including the possibility of fresh elections, will be greeted with relief in the European Union's institutions, where Germany, Europe's largest economy, is a major influence. | The end to uncertainty, including the possibility of fresh elections, will be greeted with relief in the European Union's institutions, where Germany, Europe's largest economy, is a major influence. |