Angela Merkel has secured her fourth term in power after Germany’s Social Democratic party (SPD) agreed to form another “grand coalition” government with the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). When the Social Democrat treasurer, Dietmar Nietan, announced on Sunday morning that a majority of SPD members had given the green light to a new “GroKo” or “grand coalition”, it was met with quiet relief rather than enthusiastic applause. “The SPD will enter into government.”Facebook Twitter Pinterest The SPD treasurer, Dietmar Nietan (centre left), and the temporary party leader,Olaf Scholz, announce the results of the poll at party headquarters in Berlin. In the wake of historically disappointing results at federal elections last September, the SPD leader, Martin Schulz, had initially ruled out joining Merkel in government. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Andrea Nahles, who is expected to become the next SPD leader, gives a statement after the vote result.

Source: The Guardian March 04, 2018 08:51 UTC