We are 95 percent of the way to a coalition deal, German SPD says

By Paul Carrel

 

Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Martin Schulz arrives for coalition talks at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) headquarters in Berlin, Germany, February 6, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

 

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are around 95 percent of the way to reaching a coalition deal, an SPD negotiator said on Tuesday, adding, however, the deal would not be a "masterpiece".

 

Negotiators from both blocs agreed late on Monday that more time was needed to reach a deal on renewing the so-called "grand coalition" that has governed since 2013, and decided to resume talks - initially expected to conclude on Sunday - at the party headquarters of Merkel's party in Berlin on Tuesday.

 

"I think we have 90-95 percent, but the remaining five percent are still important," said Carsten Schneider, a negotiator with the Social Democrats, adding he hoped a deal could be clinched without heading into all-night talks.

 

"It's not going to be a masterpiece but it will do for the next 3-1/2 years," he added.

 

The SPD is trying to extract concessions on healthcare and employment policy that could win over sceptics among its 443,000 members, who get the final say on whether to move ahead with another tie-up with the conservatives.

 

The Rheinische Post newspaper reported that the constitutional court was examining complaints about the legitimacy of the SPD members' ballot. There was no comment immediately available from the court.

 

An Insa poll on Monday showed mounting pressure on SPD leader Martin Schulz, with support for the SPD dropping to just 17 percent, well below its election result of 20.5 percent, the party's worst since Germany became a federal republic in 1949.

 

Merkel's failure to cobble together a new government more than four months after the election has raised concerns among investors and partner countries at a time when Europe is facing multiple challenges - including the need for euro zone reform and Britain's looming departure from the EU.

 

Germany could face a new election or an unprecedented minority government if SPD members reject a coalition deal.

 

In a sign of progress, the parties concluded their talks on Europe on Monday. Schulz said on Twitter the agreement included "more investment, an investment budget for the euro zone and an end of forced austerity!"

 

Schulz made no specific mention in his message, however, of any plans to advocate for more powers and responsibilities for the European Stability Mechanism eurozone bailout fund, as was envisaged in a coalition blueprint agreed on Jan. 12.

 

(Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-06

Hopefully the sticking point is the deportation of 5 million immigrants !

Many Germans were not happy with the former government...but they elected again the same peoples...???

1 minute ago, peperobi said:

Many Germans were not happy with the former government...but they elected again the same peoples...???

What is so difficult to understand about this? You think that this kind of result is an unprecedented phenomenon in parliamentary democracies?

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Hopefully the sticking point is the deportation of 5 million immigrants !

Sick!

It was expected. But it's sad for Europe. Nothing learned.

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9 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Hopefully the sticking point is the deportation of 5 million immigrants !

Enough of that. Objectionable!

 

Please remove

14 minutes ago, alocacoc said:

It was expected. But it's sad for Europe. Nothing learned.

Sent from a so called Smartphone using an App.
 

How do you conclude that? The SPD are pro EU and actually pro Macron! Bad for AfD methinks!

How do you conclude that? The SPD are pro EU and actually pro Macron! Bad for AfD methinks!

Yes, same as CDU. Therefore, no opposition and the dictator Merkel can continue to destroy Europe.

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1 hour ago, alocacoc said:

Yes, same as CDU. Therefore, no opposition and the dictator Merkel can continue to destroy Europe.

Sent from a so called Smartphone using an App.
 

Merkel is a dictator? The naivety of youth! I think you will find that AfD is opposition and there is worse! Sleep easy....

Is there no time limit on this? It's been almost 5 months.
 

Do Ze Germans just let the last lot dictate ad nauseum until they can dig up a majority by hook or by crook?

 

Isn't it time for Merkel to step down and for Germany to have a new election with new people at Ze Helm?

 

Seems a pretty dismal situation.

Edited February 7, 20188 yr by pedro01

I am not German and I don't even have ties to that country; but as an internationalist leftist, I support Die Linke there. Unlike Erdogan-appeaser Merkel, Die Linke has clearly criticised the fascist government of my country, Turkey.

 

And, I still believe that socialism is the way to go.

 

I hope SPD will lose votes to Die Linke, not to the fascist AfD.