German Stability at Stake in Vote on Merkel Coalition Talks

Rejection of negotiations by SPD could trigger repeat election
Chancellor looks to Social Democrats’ convention for solution

Bruegel’s Guntram Wolff says there’s "deep-rooted suspicion" that another coalition deal will be bad for the SPD.Source: Bloomberg

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By Patrick Donahue and Birgit Jennen

January 19, 2018 at 4:00 AM UTC

Updated on

January 19, 2018 at 9:49 AM UTC

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Germany’s Social Democratic Party is looking for ways to sweeten another stint in government with Angela Merkel as the political impasse in Europe’s biggest economy comes to a head.

When 600 SPD delegates vote Sunday on a proposal by party leaders to start formal coalition talks with the chancellor’s bloc, they’ll also be deciding whether Germany heads back to stability or lurches toward a repeat election that risks being as inconclusive as last year’s.