Martin Schulz, leader of Germany's Social Democrats, speaks at the close of a party congress Sunday that cleared the way to begin coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives. The vote by a convention of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) marked the clearing of a key hurdle in the creation of a governing coalition after inconclusive elections in September. It came after party leaders faced down a vocal and energetic insurgency from members who wanted to abandon the talks. Although those favoring talks won the vote, opponents — who had been derided by a Merkel ally as “dwarves” — elicited the biggest cheers. Collapse of German coalition talks deals Merkel a blow; new election likelyToday’s coverage from Post correspondents around the worldLike Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news

Source: Washington Post January 21, 2018 17:08 UTC