BERLIN—Germany’s Social Democratic Party said Sunday its members have voted in favour of joining a coalition with Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc, clearing the last major hurdle to the formation of a new government and a fourth term for the veteran German chancellor. The centre-left Social Democrats had furiously debated whether to extend the so-called grand coalition for another four years after suffering a slump in September’s election. In the end, two-thirds of the valid votes cast by its 464,000 members favoured a coalition deal, said party treasurer Dietmar Nietan, who oversaw the ballot. “This was a really important democratic decision for our country,” acting party leader Olaf Scholz told reporters in Berlin. The Social Democrats will put forward six names — three women and three men — to lead the ministries they will control in the upcoming coalition in the coming days, he said.

Source: thestar March 04, 2018 15:59 UTC