German “kingmakers” to start three-way coalition talks with SPD
Germany’s Greens and business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) have agreed to begin three-way talks on Thursday with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on forming a new...
SPD
German conservatives urge shift to right as Merkel picks cabinet
Several senior German conservatives called on Saturday for their party to shift to the right to win back voters, throwing down the gauntlet to Chancellor...
Germany’s SPD embarrassed by new canine member
Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) were forced on Tuesday to declare that a three-year old dog called Lima would not be allowed to vote with party...
Merkel, SPD under renewed fire over German coalition deal
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leader of the Social Democrats (SPD) faced further criticism on Monday from within their own parties over a new...
Merkel’s conservatives make big concessions to SPD in coalition deal
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) on Wednesday agreed to a coalition deal, taking Europe’s economic powerhouse closer to a new...
We are 95 per cent of the way to a coalition deal, German SPD says
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are around 95 per cent of the way to reaching a coalition deal, an...
Split Social Democrats could sink Merkel’s coalition plans
The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) tried on Tuesday to quash a grassroots rebellion against a blueprint agreed with Angela Merkel’s conservatives to enter formal talks...
German establishment woos SPD activists to back coalition talks
Senior politicians from Germany’s conservatives and Social Democrats (SPD) sought on Monday to shore up support for a deal on forming a coalition, after members...
SPD warn Merkel: Our members need to be convinced
Germany’s centre-left Social Democratic party (SPD) on Monday warned Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives that it would not win approval from its members for a new...
SPD leader agrees to talks on joining German government
Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) agreed to open exploratory talks on forming a government with Chancellor Angela Merkel, party leader Martin Schulz said, providing a chance...
Germany’s SPD plays hard-to-get before first talks with Merkel
Germany‘s Social Democrats said on Wednesday they would share power with Angela Merkel’s conservatives only if ordinary voters get a fairer deal, seeking to reassure...
SPD leader calls for eurozone budget ahead of Merkel meeting
The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD), who are expected to enter talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel‘s conservatives on forming a coalition government, said Europe needed...
Merkel ally urges Social Democrats to consider ‘grand coalition’
Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) should reconsider their opposition to joining a new “grand coalition” with Angela Merkel’s conservatives because Europe needs a stable government in...
Pre-election turmoil as SPD-Greens lose majority in German state
ONE of Germany’s last centre-left coalitions composed of the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens lost its one-seat majority in the Lower Saxony state assembly on...
Germany’s anti-immigrant AfD party suffers election setback in west
The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party finished a distant fourth with just 7.8 per cent of the vote in local elections on Sunday in...
German coalition talks on refugee crisis end without deal
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her coalition partners ended a meeting on Sunday without a breakthrough to resolve differences over how to handle the flood of...
Merkel, SPD ready for all-night showdown on German coalition
By Erik Kirschbaum Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) will meet late on Tuesday to try to hammer out a...
Germany’s Merkel to start tricky coalition talks with Social Democrats
By Sarah Marsh Angela Merkel holds preliminary talks with the Social Democrats (SPD) on Friday to sound out the scope for compromises to form a...