Germany’s centre-left backs formal coalition talks with Merkel

BONN: Germany’s centre-left Social Democrats voted Sunday to begin formal coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, bringing Europe’s top economy a step closer to a new government after months of deadlock.

At a special party congress in the western city of Bonn, 372 out of 642 party delegates backed SPD chief Martin Schulz’s push to approve a preliminary coalition deal painstakingly hammered out with Merkel’s CDU/CSU bloc.

The thumbs-up will come as a huge relief to Merkel, staving off the threat of snap polls or the unappealing prospect of leading an unstable minority government.

It also means a reprieve for Schulz who had staked his political future on a “yes” vote, despite initially rejecting another stint as Merkel’s junior coalition partner.

“We are relieved, the result shows that we had to fight for this majority,” Schulz said.

The vote, which was closely watched in Germany and abroad, paves the way for negotiators to launch in-depth negotiations this week.

If the talks are successfully concluded, a new government could be in place by mid-March — nearly six months after September’s tricky election.

Germany’s political breakthrough is likely to be welcomed in capitals across Europe, eager to see an end to the political impasse in a pivotal member state that has left key EU policy decisions on hold.

French President Emmanuel Macron has been openly rooting for a repeat grand alliance in Berlin, given the enthusiasm among the pro-EU SPD for some of his more ambitious reform plans such as installing a eurozone budget and finance minister.

Macron “is waiting for a partner,” Schulz, a former European Parliament chief, said in an impassioned speech to delegates ahead of the vote.

He urged the SPD to seize the chance to lead reforms for deeper EU integration and help counter the rise of right-wing populists across the continent. “Only a strong and united SPD can make our country and Europe stronger,” he said.