Merkel allies hope to end coalition talks with SPD by end of weekend
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives are optimistic that they would finish coalition talks with the Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday as the two sides continue to bridge differences on key issues.
Horst Seehofer, the number two in Merkel’s alliance of CDU/CSU, said on Thursday that he expected that almost four months of political uncertainty in Germany would end on Sunday, amid Merkel’s efforts to form a coalition that would enable her to govern the country for a fourth term.
“At this point, I still expect (completion) by Sunday,” said Seehofer, who heads the southern state of Bavaria.
The optimism was echoed by other conservative leaders as Armin Laschet, conservative premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said talks would succeed to bring about a final deal on Sunday.
“I hope we’ll get it done by (the end of) the weekend,” Laschet said, expressing hope that the two sides would avoid wasting more time in the remaining time.
The SPD has been part of the coalition governments in eight out of Merkel’s past 12 years in office. The party announced after inconclusive elections in September that it would go into opposition. Its leaders changed their mind in November after Merkel failed to seal a deal on forming a coalition with two lesser known parties.
Merkel’s conservatives and the SPD have overcome major differences on the issues of migration, climate change and pensions. However, a final agreement on Sunday could still be sunk by roughly 440,000 members of the SPD who have among them people fiercely opposed to another coalition with Merkel.
Germany undecided on complying with ICC arrest warrants for Israeli war criminals
Scholz-Putin phone call opens ‘Pandora’s box’: Zelensky
Far-right German party calls for UN probe into ‘Berlin’s role’ in Nord Stream blasts
What led to dilly-dallying in ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant
Palestinians flee Gaza City suburb after Israel issues forced evacuation order
Iran says will discuss key nuclear, regional issues with France, Germany, UK
VIDEO | Israeli archaeologist killed in Southern Lebanon
VIDEO | Israeli airstrike on Lebanon's army base kills soldier, injures 18 others
Sirens sound across Tel Aviv as Hezbollah fires barrage of missiles at Israeli target
Israeli ‘archeologist’ who toured south Lebanon in military uniform to falsify history
The importance of Venezuela for Iran
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
