The leader of Germany's center-left Social Democrats said Friday his party will join talks on forming a new government, reversing his stance and raising the prospect of an end to the political impasse that has existed since inconclusive national elections in September. Martin Schulz told reporters in Berlin that the Social Democrats were now willing to meet with other parties, but insisted that the talks "won't automatically take a particular direction. "Should the talks mean that we participate in the formation of a government, in whichever form or constellation, then our party members will vote on it first," he added. Steinmeier called all mainstream parties for talks after Merkel failed to form a coalition with the left-leaning Greens and pro-business Free Democrats last weekend. Merkel has always suggested she's open to talking with the Social Democrats, and Schulz said his party would "naturally" accept Steinmeier's invitation.

Source: ABC News November 24, 2017 11:17 UTC