Talks on forming a new grand coalition between Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) are unlikely to begin before the new year, the deputy head of her party said yesterday.
Julia Kloeckner, the deputy head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), told public broadcaster ARD that talks to form a government would not start in earnest until after the winter break and that it was important to focus on "thoroughness," according to dpa.
The SPD only recently reversed its decision to enter the opposition after suffering its worst-ever election result in September. SPD leader Martin Schulz said he is open to talks after all when negotiations between Merkel's conservatives and two smaller parties collapsed 10 days ago.
Kloeckner said the U-turn would have to be discussed at the SPD's party conference in two weeks, which would mean that coalition talks could not begin until the new year. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was due to meet with Green party leaders Katrin Goering-Eckardt und Anton Hofreiter, as well as the heads of the Left party, Sahra Wagenknecht and Dietmar Bartsch, in order to pave the way for new talks.
Merkel said yesterday she is committed to moving ahead with initial talks on trying to forge a coalition government with the center-left SPD, following the failure of negotiations with two smaller parties, adding that stability is her priority.
Merkel told reporters after a meeting with her party leaders that her conservative bloc was "prepared to take responsibility" of government again, while acknowledging that compromise would be necessary, as reported by the AP.
"For us it is important that we achieve stability for our country, and that we are the anchor of that stability," she said.
Talks between Merkel's conservative bloc and two smaller parties to form a previously untried coalition collapsed a week ago. The SPD – Merkel's partners in the outgoing government – initially refused to consider a repeat coalition, but said Friday they are open to holding talks.
Merkel, Christian Social Union of Bavaria leader Horst Seehofer, and Schulz are due to meet together with Steinmeier on Thursday.
Merkel said she is happy to talk with the SPD, her current coalition partner in government, and hopes to be able to "form a stable government."
Earlier in the day, a leading member of Merkel's CDU suggested preliminary coalition talks with the Social Democrats will likely only take place at the beginning of next year.
Julia Kloeckner, a deputy leader of the CDU, said on public television ARD that thoroughness is more important than speed.
If Merkel cannot put together a coalition, the only options would be a minority government or a new election, months after the Sept. 24 vote.
