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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Merkel in Germany coalition talks | Merkel in Germany coalition talks |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to hold coalition talks with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) after a sweeping win in Sunday's election. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to hold coalition talks with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) after a sweeping win in Sunday's election. |
| The priority of her second term would be to return Europe's largest economy to prosperity, Mrs Merkel said. | |
| She said a coalition between the FDP and her centre-right CDU/CSU bloc, which should be formed within a month, offered the best chance for recovery. | She said a coalition between the FDP and her centre-right CDU/CSU bloc, which should be formed within a month, offered the best chance for recovery. |
| Germany has been enduring its most severe recession since World War II. | Germany has been enduring its most severe recession since World War II. |
| Government estimates suggest output is set to be down by around five percent this year, and the budget deficit is surging. | |
| The chancellor said she would hold "swift and decisive" talks with FDP leader Guido Westerwelle, tipped by some to be Germany's next foreign minister. | The chancellor said she would hold "swift and decisive" talks with FDP leader Guido Westerwelle, tipped by some to be Germany's next foreign minister. |
| Ronald Pofalla, the CDU's general secretary, said: "Coalition talks should start as soon as possible... and it is our goal to have a coalition deal in a month at the latest." | |
| Mrs Merkel's previous coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), suffered their worst election performance since 1949. | Mrs Merkel's previous coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), suffered their worst election performance since 1949. |
| 'Hard job ahead' | 'Hard job ahead' |
| In her victory speech, Mrs Merkel said she wanted to be a chancellor of all Germans at a moment of crisis and that protecting and creating jobs would be her "highest aim". | In her victory speech, Mrs Merkel said she wanted to be a chancellor of all Germans at a moment of crisis and that protecting and creating jobs would be her "highest aim". |
| ANALYSIS Jonny Dymond BBC News, Berlin | ANALYSIS Jonny Dymond BBC News, Berlin |
| There are some long days of talks to come, but the shape of Germany's new government is clear. | There are some long days of talks to come, but the shape of Germany's new government is clear. |
| Angela Merkel can dump the centre-left Social Democrats she has uncomfortably cohabited with for four years and instead invite the pro-business Free Democrats to join her as a junior partner. | Angela Merkel can dump the centre-left Social Democrats she has uncomfortably cohabited with for four years and instead invite the pro-business Free Democrats to join her as a junior partner. |
| Together they will have a comfortable majority in parliament. Ms Merkel described the result as amazing. | Together they will have a comfortable majority in parliament. Ms Merkel described the result as amazing. |
| Her opposite number, Social Democrat Frank Walter Steinmayer, had a terrible night. It was he said, a "bitter defeat". | Her opposite number, Social Democrat Frank Walter Steinmayer, had a terrible night. It was he said, a "bitter defeat". |
| She added: "We can really celebrate tonight, but afterwards we have a hard job ahead of us." | She added: "We can really celebrate tonight, but afterwards we have a hard job ahead of us." |
| With the CDU/CSU winning 33% of the vote and the Free Democrats (FDP) capturing 14.6%, according to preliminary official results, the two parties have enough seats to ensure a majority in parliament, analysts say. | With the CDU/CSU winning 33% of the vote and the Free Democrats (FDP) capturing 14.6%, according to preliminary official results, the two parties have enough seats to ensure a majority in parliament, analysts say. |
| The Social Democrat SPD won 23% of votes, while the Left party took 11.9% and the Greens 10.7%. | The Social Democrat SPD won 23% of votes, while the Left party took 11.9% and the Greens 10.7%. |
| In Germany - Europe's largest economy and the biggest member of the European Union - a parliamentary majority can be secured with the support of less than 50% if the parties in question have more support than the other leading parties combined. | In Germany - Europe's largest economy and the biggest member of the European Union - a parliamentary majority can be secured with the support of less than 50% if the parties in question have more support than the other leading parties combined. |
| 'Vigilant in opposition' | 'Vigilant in opposition' |
| Mr Westerwelle said the new government would act "responsibly". | Mr Westerwelle said the new government would act "responsibly". |
| HEWITT ON EUROPE Now Merkel has the opportunity to reveal where her true instincts lie Read Gavin Hewitt's thoughts in full | HEWITT ON EUROPE Now Merkel has the opportunity to reveal where her true instincts lie Read Gavin Hewitt's thoughts in full |
| "Now the work starts for real... for Germany and our people," he said. | "Now the work starts for real... for Germany and our people," he said. |
| Sunday's results mean the SPD, which has been the junior partner in the "grand coalition" for the past four years, will be ejected from government. | Sunday's results mean the SPD, which has been the junior partner in the "grand coalition" for the past four years, will be ejected from government. |
| SPD leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his party would be "vigilant in opposition". | SPD leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his party would be "vigilant in opposition". |
| And he added that it "would not be very sensible" to resign, vowing "to go on fighting". | And he added that it "would not be very sensible" to resign, vowing "to go on fighting". |
| Several world leaders have congratulated Mrs Merkel on her victory. | Several world leaders have congratulated Mrs Merkel on her victory. |
| US President Barack Obama told her that under a "strong German government" ties between the two countries would "further strengthen and deepen", the White House said. | US President Barack Obama told her that under a "strong German government" ties between the two countries would "further strengthen and deepen", the White House said. |