Merkel’s Flirtation With Greens Raises Pressure on SPD

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party allies said a partnership with the environmental Greens is realistic, raising pressure on the Social Democrats as SPD leaders showed signs of compromise on proposed tax increases.

Jostling over policies and positions continued over the weekend after Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and their CSU Bavarian allies agreed to hold a second round of exploratory talks on forming a coalition with the Social Democrats on Oct. 14. Before then, on Oct. 10, Merkel’s bloc will hold initial discussions with the Greens.