Earlier this month, the two groupings agreed a blueprint for formal talks. But leader Martin Schulz changed his mind after CDU/CSU coalition talks with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens broke down. Nevertheless the poker face was on for the cameras as she gave a brief statement welcoming the Social Democrats' decision to approve formal coalition talks. Many Social Democrats blame Merkel for a poor election result in September and there is still significant opposition within the party to another four years as her junior coalition partner. However, pressure mounted on the SPD since November, when Merkel failed to cobble together a coalition with the liberal FDP and the Greens.

Source: bd News24 January 22, 2018 06:00 UTC