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| Germany coalition deal: Merkel set to lead fourth government | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to form her fourth government after the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) 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 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. | 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". | 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. The party leadership had been concerned younger voters might veto a deal. 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". |
| 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 also did badly, losing 65 seats, 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 SPD will now decide who will fill the six ministerial roles it is entitled to before Mrs Merkel's expected election by parliament on 14 March. | |
| Martin Schulz, the former high-profile SPD chairman, had put himself forward as a possible foreign minister, but dropped the plan amid internal party squabbles over who should fill the post. | |
| He had also annoyed many party members by first ruling out a coalition in the aftermath of the SPD's poor election showing only to enter talks later. | |
| 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. |
| Merkel has her work cut out | Merkel has her work cut out |
| Analysis by Jenny Hill, BBC News, Berlin | Analysis by Jenny Hill, BBC News, Berlin |
| Germany has waited nearly six months for this. Its new government is a continuation of the last one - a coalition between Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats, or SPD. | Germany has waited nearly six months for this. Its new government is a continuation of the last one - a coalition between Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats, or SPD. |
| Mrs Merkel will no doubt be relieved. But this is no glorious victory. The SPD - which had the final say on the coalition deal - has torn itself apart over the decision to renew the alliance. Many members still oppose it and the internal schism has worsened what were already dismal approval ratings. | Mrs Merkel will no doubt be relieved. But this is no glorious victory. The SPD - which had the final say on the coalition deal - has torn itself apart over the decision to renew the alliance. Many members still oppose it and the internal schism has worsened what were already dismal approval ratings. |
| There's also limited public enthusiasm for the union. Months of political wrangling (don't forget Mrs Merkel tried - and failed - to form a coalition with the Green and FDP parties) have done little to inspire confidence in Germany's established parties. | There's also limited public enthusiasm for the union. Months of political wrangling (don't forget Mrs Merkel tried - and failed - to form a coalition with the Green and FDP parties) have done little to inspire confidence in Germany's established parties. |
| Angela Merkel, herself profoundly damaged by the whole episode, has her work cut out now if she's to deliver the stability she promised her country. | Angela Merkel, herself profoundly damaged by the whole episode, has her work cut out now if she's to deliver the stability she promised her country. |