US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel believe that the Syrian regime must take the accountability for the East Ghouta attacks.&nbsp;

The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad&#39;s regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave.

&quot;This applies both to the Assad regime&#39;s deployment of chemical weapons and for its attacks against civilians and the blockade of humanitarian support,&quot; the leaders noted the statement released by Merkel&#39;s office.

According to reports, apart from the ongoing unrest in Syria, Merkel and Trump also discussed Russia&#39;s recent announcement of new weapons systems and its possible repercussions.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad's regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave

US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel believe that the Syrian regime must take the accountability for the East Ghouta attacks. The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad's regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave. "This applies both to the Assad regime's deployment of chemical weapons and for its attacks against civilians and the blockade of humanitarian support," the leaders noted the statement released by Merkel's office. According to reports, apart from the ongoing unrest in Syria, Merkel and Trump also discussed Russia's recent announcement of new weapons systems and its possible repercussions. (With inputs from agencies)

Syrian regime must be held accountable for Ghouta attacks: Merkel, Trump

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-cross-broder-firing-pakistan-summons-indias-deputy-high-commissioner-34495">Amid cross-border firing, Pakistan summons India&#39;s deputy high commissioner</a> 
Pakistan today summoned India&#39;s deputy high commissioner J P Singh for the second consecutive day over &nbsp;&quot;unprovoked firing by Indian troops&quot; along the Line of Control(LoC).

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-police-question-netanyahu-in-telecoms-corruption-case-34500">Israeli police question Netanyahu in telecoms corruption case</a> 
Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday for the first time in a corruption case that involves the country&#39;s largest telecommunications company, Israel Radio said.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-regime-must-be-held-accountable-for-ghouta-attacks-merkel-trump-34497">Syrian regime must be held accountable for Ghouta attacks: Merkel, Trump</a> 
The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad&#39;s regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-ranveer-singh-is-killing-it-with-pharrell-williams-at-his-holi-party-we-have-proof-34496">Ranveer Singh is killing it with Pharrell Williams at his Holi party, we have proof!</a> 
Ranveer Singh had earlier shared a photo on Instagram that read: &#39;Join Pharrell in India. Streaming live from the Holi festival hosted by Ranveer Singh&#39;. The post goes on to reveal that the party will take place on March 2, 2018, starting from 6 pm and the best part if you have noticed, is that it be live for all of us to watch!

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-pak-boys-yorkers-impresses-wasim-akram-video-goes-viral-34502">Watch: &#39;Who is this boy,&#39; asks Wasim Akram, video goes viral</a> 
The boy with left-handed bowling action is seen in the video bowling with such pace and venom that even Pakistani bowling legend Wasim Akram couldn&#39;t resist

Amid cross-border firing, Pakistan summons India's deputy high commissioner Pakistan today summoned India's deputy high commissioner J P Singh for the second consecutive day over "unprovoked firing by Indian troops" along the Line of Control(LoC). Israeli police question Netanyahu in telecoms corruption case Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday for the first time in a corruption case that involves the country's largest telecommunications company, Israel Radio said. Syrian regime must be held accountable for Ghouta attacks: Merkel, Trump The two leaders noted on Friday that Bashar al-Assad's regime must be held accountable for the humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held enclave Ranveer Singh is killing it with Pharrell Williams at his Holi party, we have proof! Ranveer Singh had earlier shared a photo on Instagram that read: 'Join Pharrell in India. Streaming live from the Holi festival hosted by Ranveer Singh'. The post goes on to reveal that the party will take place on March 2, 2018, starting from 6 pm and the best part if you have noticed, is that it be live for all of us to watch! Watch: 'Who is this boy,' asks Wasim Akram, video goes viral The boy with left-handed bowling action is seen in the video bowling with such pace and venom that even Pakistani bowling legend Wasim Akram couldn't resist

WION Evening News Brief, March 2, 2018

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday appealed to fellow members of her Christian Democratic Union to back a coalition agreement with centre-left Social Democrats, insisting that the new government would not allow new taxes or new public debt.

Merkel also underscored the need to rejuvenate the European Union, saying Europe needed to be a true player in global affairs to be taken seriously.

Merkel also underscored the need to rejuvenate the EU

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday appealed to fellow members of her Christian Democratic Union to back a coalition agreement with centre-left Social Democrats, insisting that the new government would not allow new taxes or new public debt. Merkel also underscored the need to rejuvenate the European Union, saying Europe needed to be a true player in global affairs to be taken seriously.

Germany's Merkel vows to avoid tax increases, new debt

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks on Sunday with Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin over implementing a UN ceasefire in Syria, France&#39;s presidency said, as new airstrikes pounded a rebel-held area.

The discussion, which was announced after the UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously demanded a 30-day truce, will centre on the &quot;implementation of this resolution and on the political roadmap needed to achieve lasting peace in Syria&quot;, it said.

More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria&#39;s regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus.

After the council vote, which had support from Moscow, Syrian warplanes backed by Russian air power launched new raids on Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.&nbsp;

The Britain-based monitor said at least 41 civilians were killed in Saturday&#39;s strikes, including eight children. Russia has denied taking part in the assault.&nbsp;

France and Germany have pushed for Russian support for the Syria ceasefire, which is mainly to allow aid to reach the besieged area and allow evacuations.

In its statement France&#39;s presidency said the ceasefire was &quot;an essential first step&quot;, adding that it would be &quot;extremely vigilant&quot; over its implementation.&nbsp;

More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria's regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks on Sunday with Russia's Vladimir Putin over implementing a UN ceasefire in Syria, France's presidency said, as new airstrikes pounded a rebel-held area. The discussion, which was announced after the UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously demanded a 30-day truce, will centre on the "implementation of this resolution and on the political roadmap needed to achieve lasting peace in Syria", it said. More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria's regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus. After the council vote, which had support from Moscow, Syrian warplanes backed by Russian air power launched new raids on Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based monitor said at least 41 civilians were killed in Saturday's strikes, including eight children. Russia has denied taking part in the assault. France and Germany have pushed for Russian support for the Syria ceasefire, which is mainly to allow aid to reach the besieged area and allow evacuations. In its statement France's presidency said the ceasefire was "an essential first step", adding that it would be "extremely vigilant" over its implementation.

Macron, Merkel to talk Syria ceasefire plan with Putin

Peter Tauber, secretary-general of German Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservative CDU party, will step down from his post for health reasons, party sources said Sunday.

Tauber, 43, will announce his decision on Monday, the sources said, with a successor to be named at an extraordinary party congress on February 26.

Although Tauber is seen as a close associate of Merkel&#39;s, infighting within the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) led the chancellor to designate another party stalwart to draft the party&#39;s electoral platform last year.

Tauber&#39;s intestinal illness prevented him from taking part in the protracted negotiations to form a government following last September&#39;s inconclusive elections.

He underwent surgery for his condition last month.

The CDU and the Social Democrats (SPD), both weakened by the elections, finally reluctantly renewed their left-right &quot;grand coalition&quot; or &quot;GroKo&quot; last week.

The deal is still subject to a ballot by the SPD&#39;s deeply divided base of 470,000 rank-and file members.

Some within the CDU have criticised the deal, which saw the SPD clinch the finance portfolio, as too generous.

Tauber, 43, will announce his decision on Monday, the sources said, with a successor to be named at an extraordinary party congress on February 26

Peter Tauber, secretary-general of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative CDU party, will step down from his post for health reasons, party sources said Sunday. Tauber, 43, will announce his decision on Monday, the sources said, with a successor to be named at an extraordinary party congress on February 26. Although Tauber is seen as a close associate of Merkel's, infighting within the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) led the chancellor to designate another party stalwart to draft the party's electoral platform last year. Tauber's intestinal illness prevented him from taking part in the protracted negotiations to form a government following last September's inconclusive elections. He underwent surgery for his condition last month. The CDU and the Social Democrats (SPD), both weakened by the elections, finally reluctantly renewed their left-right "grand coalition" or "GroKo" last week. The deal is still subject to a ballot by the SPD's deeply divided base of 470,000 rank-and file members. Some within the CDU have criticised the deal, which saw the SPD clinch the finance portfolio, as too generous.

Top official in Merkel's CDU to step down: Party sources

Germany&#39;s divided Social Democrats will hold a crunch vote Sunday on whether to pursue a coalition deal with Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives, or plunge the nation into political turmoil.

At an extraordinary congress in the western city of Bonn, 600 delegates from the centre-left SPD and its 45-member board will have their say on entering into formal talks for a renewed alliance with Merkel&#39;s centre-right CDU/CSU bloc.

The stakes could scarcely be higher for Merkel as a &quot;no&quot; vote would leave her with the option of leading an unstable minority government -- a prospect she has baulked at -- or face snap polls.

Horst Seehofer, leader of Merkel&#39;s Bavarian CSU sister party, said a thumbs down from the congress would be &quot;a political catastrophe&quot; for Germany.

&quot;I can only appeal to everyone to get it together and help bring about a government,&quot; he said in a recent interview with Bild newspaper.

The outcome is far from certain after leading SPD members savaged a coalition blueprint painstakingly thrashed out by the three parties this month, complaining it contained too many concessions on issues such as migration, taxes and healthcare.

&#39;#NoGroKo&#39;

With his career on the line, SPD leader Martin Schulz has been criss-crossing the country trying to sell sceptical party members on the idea of another &quot;GroKo&quot;, as the grand coalition is known in German.

In a letter to party members Friday, Schulz stressed the vote&#39;s &quot;enormous importance for the future of Germany... all of Europe and the SPD&quot;.&nbsp;

He told Der Spiegel news weekly that a defeat would &quot;very quickly&quot; trigger new elections in which voters would be likely to &quot;punish&quot; the conservatives but also the SPD.

Pitted against him is the fiery chief of the party&#39;s youth wing, Kevin Kuehnert, who has been on his own &quot;#NoGroKo&quot; tour, arguing that the party would be better served spending the next four years in the opposition.

&quot;I&#39;m very optimistic that we have a realistic chance at winning this vote,&quot; he told reporters Thursday.

Crown slipping 
 
Germany has been stuck in political limbo since September&#39;s inconclusive general election saw mainstream parties bleed support to the far-right AfD, which tapped into anger over Merkel&#39;s open-door refugee policy.

Bruised by his party&#39;s worst result in decades, Schulz initially vowed to go into opposition but then caved to pressure to reconsider after Merkel&#39;s attempt at a novel tie-up with two smaller parties collapsed in November.

The U-turn angered many grassroots SPD&#39;ers, who believed some time on the opposition benches would help the 150-year-old party regain its fighting spirit.

Merkel, often dubbed the world&#39;s most powerful woman, has been largely absent from the global stage as the domestic drama has played out, and she is increasingly described by commentators as entering the twilight of her rule.

With her hopes for a fourth term now squarely in the hands of the SPD, the veteran leader has urged party delegates to make &quot;a responsible decision&quot; and back the &quot;fair&quot; coalition roadmap.

The 28-page in-principle agreement that lays the basis for future government policies promises more spending on childcare, education and pensions as well as joining France in a push to reform the EU.

Hurdles ahead 
 
But critics within the SPD have bemoaned the party&#39;s failure to secure a tax hike for the rich or a restructuring of the country&#39;s two-tier health care system -- two major campaign pledges.

They have also voiced dismay at the document&#39;s mention of limiting asylum seeker arrivals to around 200,000 a year, a flagship CSU demand.

Schulz has since insisted that many details still need to be ironed out and proposed that any future coalition government be put under review after two years.

A Forsa survey published Thursday found that 61 percent of SPD voters were in favour of moving on to formal coalition talks.

The same poll found that the SPD would score just 18 percent if elections were held now, below the 20.5 percent garnered in September.

Even if party delegates give the green light to open formal coalition talks, another hurdle looms on the path to a new government.

Schulz has pledged that any final coalition agreement will still be put to a vote by more than 400,000 rank-and-file SPD members.

Germany's divided Social Democrats will hold a crunch vote Sunday on whether to pursue a coalition deal with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, or plunge the nation into political turmoil.

Germany's divided Social Democrats will hold a crunch vote Sunday on whether to pursue a coalition deal with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, or plunge the nation into political turmoil. At an extraordinary congress in the western city of Bonn, 600 delegates from the centre-left SPD and its 45-member board will have their say on entering into formal talks for a renewed alliance with Merkel's centre-right CDU/CSU bloc. The stakes could scarcely be higher for Merkel as a "no" vote would leave her with the option of leading an unstable minority government -- a prospect she has baulked at -- or face snap polls. Horst Seehofer, leader of Merkel's Bavarian CSU sister party, said a thumbs down from the congress would be "a political catastrophe" for Germany. "I can only appeal to everyone to get it together and help bring about a government," he said in a recent interview with Bild newspaper. The outcome is far from certain after leading SPD members savaged a coalition blueprint painstakingly thrashed out by the three parties this month, complaining it contained too many concessions on issues such as migration, taxes and healthcare. '#NoGroKo' With his career on the line, SPD leader Martin Schulz has been criss-crossing the country trying to sell sceptical party members on the idea of another "GroKo", as the grand coalition is known in German. In a letter to party members Friday, Schulz stressed the vote's "enormous importance for the future of Germany... all of Europe and the SPD". He told Der Spiegel news weekly that a defeat would "very quickly" trigger new elections in which voters would be likely to "punish" the conservatives but also the SPD. Pitted against him is the fiery chief of the party's youth wing, Kevin Kuehnert, who has been on his own "#NoGroKo" tour, arguing that the party would be better served spending the next four years in the opposition. "I'm very optimistic that we have a realistic chance at winning this vote," he told reporters Thursday. Crown slipping Germany has been stuck in political limbo since September's inconclusive general election saw mainstream parties bleed support to the far-right AfD, which tapped into anger over Merkel's open-door refugee policy. Bruised by his party's worst result in decades, Schulz initially vowed to go into opposition but then caved to pressure to reconsider after Merkel's attempt at a novel tie-up with two smaller parties collapsed in November. The U-turn angered many grassroots SPD'ers, who believed some time on the opposition benches would help the 150-year-old party regain its fighting spirit. Merkel, often dubbed the world's most powerful woman, has been largely absent from the global stage as the domestic drama has played out, and she is increasingly described by commentators as entering the twilight of her rule. With her hopes for a fourth term now squarely in the hands of the SPD, the veteran leader has urged party delegates to make "a responsible decision" and back the "fair" coalition roadmap. The 28-page in-principle agreement that lays the basis for future government policies promises more spending on childcare, education and pensions as well as joining France in a push to reform the EU. Hurdles ahead But critics within the SPD have bemoaned the party's failure to secure a tax hike for the rich or a restructuring of the country's two-tier health care system -- two major campaign pledges. They have also voiced dismay at the document's mention of limiting asylum seeker arrivals to around 200,000 a year, a flagship CSU demand. Schulz has since insisted that many details still need to be ironed out and proposed that any future coalition government be put under review after two years. A Forsa survey published Thursday found that 61 percent of SPD voters were in favour of moving on to formal coalition talks. The same poll found that the SPD would score just 18 percent if elections were held now, below the 20.5 percent garnered in September. Even if party delegates give the green light to open formal coalition talks, another hurdle looms on the path to a new government. Schulz has pledged that any final coalition agreement will still be put to a vote by more than 400,000 rank-and-file SPD members.

Germany's SPD to hold all-or-nothing vote on Merkel alliance today

Germany&#39;s Social Democrats (SPD) voted on Sunday to begin formal coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives, moving Europe&#39;s economic powerhouse one step closer to a stable government after months of political deadlock.

SPD delegates voted by 362 to 279, with one abstention, to press ahead with negotiations. The centre-left party&#39;s leaders had agreed a preliminary coalition blueprint with Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc earlier this month.&nbsp;

A recount was held after an initial show of hands was too close for the SPD official in charge of the count to call.&nbsp;

Just before delegates voted, SPD leader Martin Schulz made an impassioned plea for a &#39;yes&#39;, telling them their decision was being watched across Germany and Europe.

&quot;One must not rule at any price,&quot; Schulz said. &quot;But neither should one be prepared to pay any price to decline to rule.&quot;

Coalition talks are now expected to start this week, a step likely to be welcomed by Germany&#39;s partners in Europe, where Merkel has long played a leading role in economic and security affairs.

SPD party members will still get to vote on any final coalition deal that emerges, however.

Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday they wanted to deepen bilateral cooperation and give the European Union a fresh push towards closer integration.

The SPD and conservative blocs, which both bled support to the far right in the Sept. 24 election, struck their preliminary deal after exploratory talks on renewing their ruling alliance that took office in 2013.&nbsp;

SPD critics, including the party&#39;s youth wing leader Kevin Kuehnert, argued the exploratory blueprint did not bear enough of the SPD&#39;s hallmarks.

The motion passed by delegates on Sunday opening the way for negotiations included language on obtaining improvements to the blueprint that would see conservative concessions on labour, health and migration policies.

&quot;We will fight for further improvements in the coalition negotiations if we can continue the talks,&quot; Schulz earlier told the congress in Bonn, the capital of the former West Germany where late SPD chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt earned reputations as international statesmen.

Leading conservatives have rejected SPD demands for major concessions.

The centre-left party's leaders had agreed to a preliminary coalition blueprint with Merkel's conservative bloc earlier this month.

Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) voted on Sunday to begin formal coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, moving Europe's economic powerhouse one step closer to a stable government after months of political deadlock. SPD delegates voted by 362 to 279, with one abstention, to press ahead with negotiations. The centre-left party's leaders had agreed a preliminary coalition blueprint with Merkel's conservative bloc earlier this month. A recount was held after an initial show of hands was too close for the SPD official in charge of the count to call. Just before delegates voted, SPD leader Martin Schulz made an impassioned plea for a 'yes', telling them their decision was being watched across Germany and Europe. "One must not rule at any price," Schulz said. "But neither should one be prepared to pay any price to decline to rule." Coalition talks are now expected to start this week, a step likely to be welcomed by Germany's partners in Europe, where Merkel has long played a leading role in economic and security affairs. SPD party members will still get to vote on any final coalition deal that emerges, however. Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday they wanted to deepen bilateral cooperation and give the European Union a fresh push towards closer integration. The SPD and conservative blocs, which both bled support to the far right in the Sept. 24 election, struck their preliminary deal after exploratory talks on renewing their ruling alliance that took office in 2013. SPD critics, including the party's youth wing leader Kevin Kuehnert, argued the exploratory blueprint did not bear enough of the SPD's hallmarks. The motion passed by delegates on Sunday opening the way for negotiations included language on obtaining improvements to the blueprint that would see conservative concessions on labour, health and migration policies. "We will fight for further improvements in the coalition negotiations if we can continue the talks," Schulz earlier told the congress in Bonn, the capital of the former West Germany where late SPD chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt earned reputations as international statesmen. Leading conservatives have rejected SPD demands for major concessions.

Germany's SPD votes for coalition talks with Angela Merkel

Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives and the Social Democrats sealed a deal Wednesday on a new coalition, officials close to the talks said, potentially ending four months of political standstill in Europe&#39;s top economy.

The sources said the parties had ironed out their final differences and were ready to sign an agreement for Merkel&#39;s fourth term.

Public broadcaster ARD said the final disputes had centred around &quot;ministry remits and personnel questions&quot;.&nbsp;

The breakthrough will come as a relief to Germany&#39;s EU partners as the bloc faces tough negotiations on migration and Brexit.&nbsp;

Merkel, Europe&#39;s most experienced leader, has seen her standing at home and abroad weakened by the longest stretch of coalition-building in the country&#39;s postwar history.

But before she can be sworn in, a final hurdle looms: the hard-fought pact between her CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democratic Party must still be approved by the SPD&#39;s sceptical rank-and-file .

The agreement for a renewed &quot;grand coalition&quot; comes after days of marathon talks in which negotiators from all three parties haggled over everything from foreign policy to labour issues and healthcare.

SPD holds the keys&nbsp;

Germany has been stuck in political limbo since September&#39;s inconclusive general election saw mainstream parties bleed support to the far-right AfD, which tapped into anger over Merkel&#39;s liberal refugee policy.

Merkel, in power for over 12 years, at first tried to cobble together a novel three-way coalition with the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats, but those efforts collapsed in November.

Faced with snap elections that could further boost the AfD or the prospect of heading an unstable minority government, she opted to woo back the SPD -- her junior partner for two of her three terms since 2005.

SPD leader Martin Schulz then abandoned his post-election vow to renew the party in opposition -- a U-turn that angered many.

Merkel&#39;s fate now lies in the hands of the SPD, as Schulz has promised to give his party&#39;s 460,000 members the final say on whether to accept the coalition pact.

Observers expect the referendum to be tight, with the SPD&#39;s left and youth wings fiercely opposed to another four years governing in Merkel&#39;s shadow.

The party&#39;s fiery youth chief Kevin Kuehnert has led a campaign against another &quot;GroKo&quot;, as the grand coalition is known.

The referendum will be held by postal ballot, with the result expected to be announced in early March.

A green light could see a new Merkel-led government in place by the end of next month.

A thumbs-down could spell disaster for Merkel and Schulz, whose political lives hang in the balance, and see the country headed for fresh elections.

Hard-won concessions&nbsp;

With so much at stake, Schulz was determined to extract as many concessions as possible from the tortuous coalition talks to win over sceptics.

While details of the final agreement have yet to be released, former European Parliament chief Schulz has put a fairer Europe at the heart of his efforts, insisting that Berlin must join French President Emmanuel Macron&#39;s push to deepen eurozone integration.

In a draft version of the coalition pact seen by AFP, the parties agreed to support Macron&#39;s reform drive and tentatively backed his idea of a eurozone investment budget.

On the hot-button topic of migration, the two camps said they would aim to limit the annual intake to 180,000-220,000 people, a key CSU demand.

The SPD however won assurances that family reunifications for refugees would resume in August, albeit restricted to 1,000 people a month.

It was not immediately clear how the final sticking points in the negotiations were resolved, such as the SPD&#39;s insistence on limiting short-term contracts and overhauling the two-tier healthcare system.

On defence spending too, both sides remained at odds as the finish line neared with the conservatives more open than the SPD to raising military spending closer to NATO targets, as pushed for by US President Donald Trump.

But the protracted haggling has left its scars, and surveys suggest both camps have much to fear from fresh elections in case of a &quot;no&quot; vote from SPD members.

A recent Insa poll found that support for the CDU/CSU had fallen from 33 to 30.5 per cent, while the SPD slipped from September&#39;s historic low of 20.5 per cent to 17 per cent.

The AfD meanwhile scored a record 15 pe rcent.

The sources said the parties had ironed out their final differences and were ready to sign an agreement for Merkel's fourth term

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats sealed a deal Wednesday on a new coalition, officials close to the talks said, potentially ending four months of political standstill in Europe's top economy. The sources said the parties had ironed out their final differences and were ready to sign an agreement for Merkel's fourth term. Public broadcaster ARD said the final disputes had centred around "ministry remits and personnel questions". The breakthrough will come as a relief to Germany's EU partners as the bloc faces tough negotiations on migration and Brexit. Merkel, Europe's most experienced leader, has seen her standing at home and abroad weakened by the longest stretch of coalition-building in the country's postwar history. But before she can be sworn in, a final hurdle looms: the hard-fought pact between her CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democratic Party must still be approved by the SPD's sceptical rank-and-file . The agreement for a renewed "grand coalition" comes after days of marathon talks in which negotiators from all three parties haggled over everything from foreign policy to labour issues and healthcare. SPD holds the keys Germany has been stuck in political limbo since September's inconclusive general election saw mainstream parties bleed support to the far-right AfD, which tapped into anger over Merkel's liberal refugee policy. Merkel, in power for over 12 years, at first tried to cobble together a novel three-way coalition with the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats, but those efforts collapsed in November. Faced with snap elections that could further boost the AfD or the prospect of heading an unstable minority government, she opted to woo back the SPD -- her junior partner for two of her three terms since 2005. SPD leader Martin Schulz then abandoned his post-election vow to renew the party in opposition -- a U-turn that angered many. Merkel's fate now lies in the hands of the SPD, as Schulz has promised to give his party's 460,000 members the final say on whether to accept the coalition pact. Observers expect the referendum to be tight, with the SPD's left and youth wings fiercely opposed to another four years governing in Merkel's shadow. The party's fiery youth chief Kevin Kuehnert has led a campaign against another "GroKo", as the grand coalition is known. The referendum will be held by postal ballot, with the result expected to be announced in early March. A green light could see a new Merkel-led government in place by the end of next month. A thumbs-down could spell disaster for Merkel and Schulz, whose political lives hang in the balance, and see the country headed for fresh elections. Hard-won concessions With so much at stake, Schulz was determined to extract as many concessions as possible from the tortuous coalition talks to win over sceptics. While details of the final agreement have yet to be released, former European Parliament chief Schulz has put a fairer Europe at the heart of his efforts, insisting that Berlin must join French President Emmanuel Macron's push to deepen eurozone integration. In a draft version of the coalition pact seen by AFP, the parties agreed to support Macron's reform drive and tentatively backed his idea of a eurozone investment budget. On the hot-button topic of migration, the two camps said they would aim to limit the annual intake to 180,000-220,000 people, a key CSU demand. The SPD however won assurances that family reunifications for refugees would resume in August, albeit restricted to 1,000 people a month. It was not immediately clear how the final sticking points in the negotiations were resolved, such as the SPD's insistence on limiting short-term contracts and overhauling the two-tier healthcare system. On defence spending too, both sides remained at odds as the finish line neared with the conservatives more open than the SPD to raising military spending closer to NATO targets, as pushed for by US President Donald Trump. But the protracted haggling has left its scars, and surveys suggest both camps have much to fear from fresh elections in case of a "no" vote from SPD members. A recent Insa poll found that support for the CDU/CSU had fallen from 33 to 30.5 per cent, while the SPD slipped from September's historic low of 20.5 per cent to 17 per cent. The AfD meanwhile scored a record 15 pe rcent.

Germany's top parties 'reach deal' on Merkel coalition

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Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar spoke about his another passion other than cricket, cars During an Auto Expo 2018 in Delhi on Wednesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/germanys-top-parties-reach-deal-on-merkel-coalition-32099">Germany&#39;s top parties &#39;reach deal&#39; on Merkel coalition</a>

Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives and the Social Democrats sealed a deal Wednesday on a new coalition, officials close to the talks said, potentially ending four months of political standstill in Europe&#39;s top economy.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/auto-expo-2018-honda-india-unveils-x-blade-motorcycle-10-new-models-32102">Auto Expo 2018: Honda India unveils X-Blade motorcycle, 10 other new models&nbsp;</a>

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. today unveiled its most extensive product line-up with 11 new models at the ongoing 14th Auto Expo 2018. &nbsp;

Modi continues attack on opposition, says Congress-mukt Bharat was Gandhi's idea In a second mammoth talk in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi continued his attack on the Congress. China warns against military intervention in Maldives China today warned against any military intervention in the Maldives, saying such a move would further complicate the situation, amid repeated calls for India's military intervention by exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed to resolve the political crisis. Sachin at Auto Expo 2018: My love for cars began at age three Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar spoke about his another passion other than cricket, cars During an Auto Expo 2018 in Delhi on Wednesday. Germany's top parties 'reach deal' on Merkel coalition Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats sealed a deal Wednesday on a new coalition, officials close to the talks said, potentially ending four months of political standstill in Europe's top economy. Auto Expo 2018: Honda India unveils X-Blade motorcycle, 10 other new models Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. today unveiled its most extensive product line-up with 11 new models at the ongoing 14th Auto Expo 2018.

WION Evening News Brief, February 7, 2018

German Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives entered coalition talks Sunday with knotty issues still to untangle with their historic centre-left rivals, but a deal could finally be in sight.

Merkel professed her &quot;good will, but also some expectation that there will be tough hours of talks ahead&quot; as her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) negotiators arrived at Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters in Berlin.

&quot;We will have to negotiate very, very intensively today&quot; especially on areas of social policy like labour law, healthcare reform and housing, SPD chief Martin Schulz said, adding that the wrangling could go on &quot;until late in the evening or the night&quot;.

Even more important than speedy progress was a &quot;dependable coalition agreement that achieves consensus&quot; for a stable government, he continued.

More than four months after an election beating for both parties, leaders hope to wrap up talks on repeating the &quot;grand coalition&quot; or &quot;GroKo&quot; that has ruled since 2013 by Sunday evening, with the option of extending into Monday or Tuesday.

Germany&#39;s partners abroad are watching impatiently from the sidelines, as Berlin has been paralysed since September on urgent issues like reform of the European Union.

Both sides are reluctant to compromise too much and risk losing support but are equally fearful of going back to voters in repeat elections that could see a further rise of the far-right.

Neither can they afford to dig in their heels, as a poll for ARD television showed 71 percent of people do not understand &quot;why forming a government is taking so long&quot;.

At stake for Merkel is whether she leads a stable coalition into her fourth term, or risks a fragile minority government or new elections.

The SPD is a reluctant partner, having initially vowed to go into opposition after plunging to a historic low vote share of 20.5 percent in September.

Social Democrats agreed to talks only after Merkel&#39;s soundings with two smaller parties, the ecologist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, fell through.

Challenged by rebels within his own ranks, SPD leader Martin Schulz has sought political cover by putting any final coalition deal to a vote by all 440,000 members. Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD youth wing, has become a standard bearer for opponents of a new deal with Merkel.

&quot;This kind of politics was rewarded with a 14 percentage point drop (for CDU and SPD combined) last year, and I suspect things will continue that way&quot; if the coalition materialises, he has said.

Others warn the SPD is too weak to face voters again so soon, garnering 18 percent in some polls -- just a few points ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Merkel too faces grumbling among her troops, with more conservative voices accusing her of marching her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) too far into the political centre, giving up terrain to the AfD. Meanwhile, the press has scented the end of an era approaching.

Eight years of GroKo under Merkel -- from 2005-09 and again from 2013-17 -- had shown that &quot;the lowest common denominator achieves nothing as long as there is no overarching idea,&quot; commented Stefan Braun for the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Public backbiting between the parties had highlighted how &quot;hesitant, quarrelsome, demoralising and above all uninspiring&quot; the whole process was, he wrote.

Merkel and Schulz should offer honest, ambitious answers to the country`s big challenges or &quot;leave the way clear for new leaders or new elections&quot;. The far-right has profited from public fears about the arrival of more than one million migrants and refugees since 2015.

It dances along the line between widespread concern over the effort that integrating so many new arrivals will take and outright racism, xenophobia and conspiracy theories.

And the AfD&#39;s entry into parliament, complicating coalition arithmetic, is largely what has forced the unwilling CDU and SPD together again.

Merkel&#39;s struggles to form a government have had consequences abroad with some now looking to Paris and youthful President Emmanuel Macron of France for leadership rather than to Berlin.

Germany -- a vital partner for reforming the EU -- has been guardedly open to some of Macron`s grand plans for the bloc.

But Schulz, a former European Parliament president, has founded his decision to enter talks with Merkel on determination to seize the hand proffered by France.

&quot;The fight for a stronger, renewed Europe&quot; must be top of the new government`s to-do list, he declared last week.

Social Democrats agreed to talks only after Merkel's soundings with two smaller parties

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives entered coalition talks Sunday with knotty issues still to untangle with their historic centre-left rivals, but a deal could finally be in sight. Merkel professed her "good will, but also some expectation that there will be tough hours of talks ahead" as her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) negotiators arrived at Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters in Berlin. "We will have to negotiate very, very intensively today" especially on areas of social policy like labour law, healthcare reform and housing, SPD chief Martin Schulz said, adding that the wrangling could go on "until late in the evening or the night". Even more important than speedy progress was a "dependable coalition agreement that achieves consensus" for a stable government, he continued. More than four months after an election beating for both parties, leaders hope to wrap up talks on repeating the "grand coalition" or "GroKo" that has ruled since 2013 by Sunday evening, with the option of extending into Monday or Tuesday. Germany's partners abroad are watching impatiently from the sidelines, as Berlin has been paralysed since September on urgent issues like reform of the European Union. Both sides are reluctant to compromise too much and risk losing support but are equally fearful of going back to voters in repeat elections that could see a further rise of the far-right. Neither can they afford to dig in their heels, as a poll for ARD television showed 71 percent of people do not understand "why forming a government is taking so long". At stake for Merkel is whether she leads a stable coalition into her fourth term, or risks a fragile minority government or new elections. The SPD is a reluctant partner, having initially vowed to go into opposition after plunging to a historic low vote share of 20.5 percent in September. Social Democrats agreed to talks only after Merkel's soundings with two smaller parties, the ecologist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, fell through. Challenged by rebels within his own ranks, SPD leader Martin Schulz has sought political cover by putting any final coalition deal to a vote by all 440,000 members. Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD youth wing, has become a standard bearer for opponents of a new deal with Merkel. "This kind of politics was rewarded with a 14 percentage point drop (for CDU and SPD combined) last year, and I suspect things will continue that way" if the coalition materialises, he has said. Others warn the SPD is too weak to face voters again so soon, garnering 18 percent in some polls -- just a few points ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Merkel too faces grumbling among her troops, with more conservative voices accusing her of marching her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) too far into the political centre, giving up terrain to the AfD. Meanwhile, the press has scented the end of an era approaching. Eight years of GroKo under Merkel -- from 2005-09 and again from 2013-17 -- had shown that "the lowest common denominator achieves nothing as long as there is no overarching idea," commented Stefan Braun for the Sueddeutsche Zeitung. Public backbiting between the parties had highlighted how "hesitant, quarrelsome, demoralising and above all uninspiring" the whole process was, he wrote. Merkel and Schulz should offer honest, ambitious answers to the country`s big challenges or "leave the way clear for new leaders or new elections". The far-right has profited from public fears about the arrival of more than one million migrants and refugees since 2015. It dances along the line between widespread concern over the effort that integrating so many new arrivals will take and outright racism, xenophobia and conspiracy theories. And the AfD's entry into parliament, complicating coalition arithmetic, is largely what has forced the unwilling CDU and SPD together again. Merkel's struggles to form a government have had consequences abroad with some now looking to Paris and youthful President Emmanuel Macron of France for leadership rather than to Berlin. Germany -- a vital partner for reforming the EU -- has been guardedly open to some of Macron`s grand plans for the bloc. But Schulz, a former European Parliament president, has founded his decision to enter talks with Merkel on determination to seize the hand proffered by France. "The fight for a stronger, renewed Europe" must be top of the new government`s to-do list, he declared last week.

Merkel enters final stretch in coalition-building marathon

German carmakers came under fire Monday following revelations they helped finance experiments that saw humans and monkeys exposed to toxic diesel fumes that have been linked to asthma, lung diseases and heart attacks.

The disclosures sparked widespread outrage, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel who strongly condemned the latest controversy to engulf the nation&#39;s powerful but scandal-tainted auto industry

&quot;These tests on monkeys or even humans are in no way ethically justified,&quot; said Merkel&#39;s spokesman Steffen Seibert.

&quot;The indignation felt by many people is completely understandable.&quot;

Earlier Monday the Sueddeutsche and Stuttgarter Zeitung dailies reported that a research group funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy human beings at a German university hospital.

The revelation came just days after the New York Times wrote that the same organisation carried out tests on monkeys in the United States in 2014.

According to the NYT article, the researchers locked 10 monkeys into airtight chambers and made them breathe in diesel exhausts from a VW Beetle while watching cartoons.

Volkswagen apologised for the animal testing at the weekend, saying the group &quot;distances itself clearly from all forms of animal abuse&quot;.

Special meeting&nbsp;

The German government has called a special meeting with the affected car companies to ask them to explain themselves, said acting transport minister Christian Schmidt.

&quot;This has once again damaged trust in the auto industry,&quot; he said.

It was VW&#39;s admission in 2015 that it had manipulated 11 million diesel cars with cheating software to make them seems less polluting than they were that brought close scrutiny to the industry, which had long touted diesels as better for the environment than gasoline-powered engines.

Several German cities grappling with air pollution are now mulling diesel bans.

All three German carmakers have distanced themselves from the research body in question -- the now defunct European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) -- and promised to launch internal investigations.

&quot;The BMW Group did not participate in the mentioned studies,&quot; the luxury carmaker said in a statement.

&quot;We are appalled by the extent of the studies and their implementation,&quot; a Daimler spokesman told AFP.

While it was the EUGT that commissioned both tests, the organisation itself was financed by the trio of car giants hoping its research would defend diesel&#39;s green reputation -- and the valuable tax breaks that go with it.

The car companies decided in late 2016 to dissolve the EUGT, which finally shut its doors last year.

No significant effects

The tests involving 25 human volunteers were carried out at a university hospital in the German city of Aachen in 2013 and 2014.

As part of the study, the participants were exposed for several hours to different levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) -- the most toxic form of nitrogen oxide and commonly found in diesel exhausts.&nbsp;

The researchers detected &quot;no significant effects&quot;, according to a summary of the study.

But Thomas Kraus, the head of the relevant department at the university hospital in Aachen, told German media the findings were limited as they weren&#39;t representative of the wider population and didn&#39;t take into account general air pollution.

The institute released a statement stressing the study had been approved by the university hospital&#39;s ethics commission.

The study was carried out before &quot;dieselgate&quot; erupted and was not linked to diesel emissions testing or to experiments involving monkeys, it added.

On its website the World Health Organization points to &quot;growing evidence&quot; that nitrogen dioxide exposure &quot;can increase symptoms of bronchitis and asthma, as well as lead to respiratory infections and reduced lung function and growth.&quot;

Exposure is &quot;linked to premature mortality... from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,&quot; it states.

Absurd

The premier of Lower Saxony, whose state is home to VW&#39;s Wolfsburg headquarters and is one of the group&#39;s biggest shareholders, echoed Berlin&#39;s repudiation of the tests.

The experiments are &quot;absurd and disgusting&quot; said Weil, whose state holds two seats on VW&#39;s supervisory board.

He reminded the VW group that it &quot;must meet all ethical requirements&quot;.

The latest scandal &quot;will have a lasting impact on the public&#39;s trust in the auto industry,&quot; predicted analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Center for Automotive Research.

A research group funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy human beings at a German university hospital

German carmakers came under fire Monday following revelations they helped finance experiments that saw humans and monkeys exposed to toxic diesel fumes that have been linked to asthma, lung diseases and heart attacks. The disclosures sparked widespread outrage, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel who strongly condemned the latest controversy to engulf the nation's powerful but scandal-tainted auto industry "These tests on monkeys or even humans are in no way ethically justified," said Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert. "The indignation felt by many people is completely understandable." Earlier Monday the Sueddeutsche and Stuttgarter Zeitung dailies reported that a research group funded by Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy human beings at a German university hospital. The revelation came just days after the New York Times wrote that the same organisation carried out tests on monkeys in the United States in 2014. According to the NYT article, the researchers locked 10 monkeys into airtight chambers and made them breathe in diesel exhausts from a VW Beetle while watching cartoons. Volkswagen apologised for the animal testing at the weekend, saying the group "distances itself clearly from all forms of animal abuse". Special meeting The German government has called a special meeting with the affected car companies to ask them to explain themselves, said acting transport minister Christian Schmidt. "This has once again damaged trust in the auto industry," he said. It was VW's admission in 2015 that it had manipulated 11 million diesel cars with cheating software to make them seems less polluting than they were that brought close scrutiny to the industry, which had long touted diesels as better for the environment than gasoline-powered engines. Several German cities grappling with air pollution are now mulling diesel bans. All three German carmakers have distanced themselves from the research body in question -- the now defunct European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) -- and promised to launch internal investigations. "The BMW Group did not participate in the mentioned studies," the luxury carmaker said in a statement. "We are appalled by the extent of the studies and their implementation," a Daimler spokesman told AFP. While it was the EUGT that commissioned both tests, the organisation itself was financed by the trio of car giants hoping its research would defend diesel's green reputation -- and the valuable tax breaks that go with it. The car companies decided in late 2016 to dissolve the EUGT, which finally shut its doors last year. No significant effects The tests involving 25 human volunteers were carried out at a university hospital in the German city of Aachen in 2013 and 2014. As part of the study, the participants were exposed for several hours to different levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) -- the most toxic form of nitrogen oxide and commonly found in diesel exhausts. The researchers detected "no significant effects", according to a summary of the study. But Thomas Kraus, the head of the relevant department at the university hospital in Aachen, told German media the findings were limited as they weren't representative of the wider population and didn't take into account general air pollution. The institute released a statement stressing the study had been approved by the university hospital's ethics commission. The study was carried out before "dieselgate" erupted and was not linked to diesel emissions testing or to experiments involving monkeys, it added. On its website the World Health Organization points to "growing evidence" that nitrogen dioxide exposure "can increase symptoms of bronchitis and asthma, as well as lead to respiratory infections and reduced lung function and growth." Exposure is "linked to premature mortality... from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases," it states. Absurd The premier of Lower Saxony, whose state is home to VW's Wolfsburg headquarters and is one of the group's biggest shareholders, echoed Berlin's repudiation of the tests. The experiments are "absurd and disgusting" said Weil, whose state holds two seats on VW's supervisory board. He reminded the VW group that it "must meet all ethical requirements". The latest scandal "will have a lasting impact on the public's trust in the auto industry," predicted analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer of the Center for Automotive Research.

German carmakers under fire for diesel tests on humans, monkeys

France&rsquo;s president Emannuel Macron is having a busy week meeting two women: &nbsp;one who is going to sever their relationship and the other, looking to strengthen it. &nbsp;On a cold, blustery day straight out of the windblown scenes of the famous novel, &ldquo;The French Lieutenant&rsquo;s Woman&rsquo;&rsquo;, Monsieur Macron first met with UK PM &nbsp;Theresa May for the 35th Anglo-French Summit in Sandhurst. There were two subjects uppermost on their minds: the plight of refugees in the French town of Calais, which is the French transit point across the English Channel from the UK. And how Brexit will affect the UK-France relationship.

Le Touquet in French means a trivial sum, something of no consequence. But it&rsquo;s also the name of a 2003 agreement between the two countries which allows British officials to screen refugees in Calais &ndash; on French soil, before they can leave for the UK and that is proving to be a big deal. &nbsp;Calais officials are annoyed because the signatories didn&rsquo;t anticipate just how many refugees would arrive in the seaside town, 33 km across the sea from the UK. There were once 10,000 refugees here. The number has dwindled to 700 and yet, officials say that many arrive without papers and formal family reunification requests and &ndash; the numbers are reportedly mounting again.

The youthful Macron swore to amend the agreement and &ndash; the exquisite meal in a Michelin-starred pub that his 61-year-old U.K. counterpart invited him to, may have helped in striking a deal. The UK will offer France 62 million dollars to bolster security at French border controls and the two sides signed a new treaty to complement the agreement too. Ms May, of course, hopes that the gesture will soften Mr Macron towards the UK even after Brexit.

&quot;While this summit takes place as the UK prepares to leave the EU, we are and will remain a steadfast partner to our friends and allies, said Ms May at a joint press conference. &ldquo;And a strong and deep relationship between the United Kingdom and France remains in both of our interests. The president and I agree on the importance of the UK-France relationship, not just to our security but to European security.&quot;

When it came to the subject of Brexit and the EU, &nbsp;not even the finest partridge lunch seems to have helped. Macron was unmoved and continued to play hardball.

&quot;First of all, I&#39;m going to be very clear with you: I am not here to reward or punish, the French President said. &ldquo; I am here to do the utmost to make sure that our mutual interests are defended. But I have one demand and that is that the single market is preserved. It is one of the benefits of the European Union and one of the bases of the European Union. So now the choice in on the British side, it&#39;s not on my side. There cannot be a differentiated access to the single market of which financial services are part.&rdquo;

It was a bittersweet parting. &nbsp;And just like in the famous novel by John Fowles, Monsieur Macron returned to France &ndash; leaving a windblown Ms May gazing across the channel in despair and pondering over their joint future after the formal divorce &ndash; Brexit &ndash; is through.

But the flexible &quot;Mr Plexiglas&quot; - as some of his opponents call him - is already on to something new: a rendezvous with his all-time favourite lady.&nbsp;

Her age is perfect &ndash; she&rsquo;s 64. She is just as powerful as he is, Europeans say even more so. And the stars seem right since she is finally going to give Germany a long-awaited coalition government. Chancellor Angela Merkel will spend an afternoon on the banks of the Seine on Friday to celebrate an even longer alliance: 55 years of fraternit&eacute; with France.

Merkel brings Mr Macron the news he has been waiting for: that five months after Germany&rsquo;s general election, the coalition between her conservatives and the Social Democrats will finally take shape. The two superpowers of the European Union are in synch: Macron is putting tough but necessary reforms in place - of the kind that have propelled Germany&rsquo;s economy back on track. Ms Merkel and Mr Macron will aim at strengthening the Eurozone and aim at closer cooperation over the three issues closest to their hearts: defence, migration and climate change.

But the flexible "Mr Plexiglas" - as some of his opponents call him - is already on to something new: a rendezvous with his all-time favourite lady.

France’s president Emannuel Macron is having a busy week meeting two women: one who is going to sever their relationship and the other, looking to strengthen it. On a cold, blustery day straight out of the windblown scenes of the famous novel, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman’’, Monsieur Macron first met with UK PM Theresa May for the 35th Anglo-French Summit in Sandhurst. There were two subjects uppermost on their minds: the plight of refugees in the French town of Calais, which is the French transit point across the English Channel from the UK. And how Brexit will affect the UK-France relationship. Le Touquet in French means a trivial sum, something of no consequence. But it’s also the name of a 2003 agreement between the two countries which allows British officials to screen refugees in Calais – on French soil, before they can leave for the UK and that is proving to be a big deal. Calais officials are annoyed because the signatories didn’t anticipate just how many refugees would arrive in the seaside town, 33 km across the sea from the UK. There were once 10,000 refugees here. The number has dwindled to 700 and yet, officials say that many arrive without papers and formal family reunification requests and – the numbers are reportedly mounting again. The youthful Macron swore to amend the agreement and – the exquisite meal in a Michelin-starred pub that his 61-year-old U.K. counterpart invited him to, may have helped in striking a deal. The UK will offer France 62 million dollars to bolster security at French border controls and the two sides signed a new treaty to complement the agreement too. Ms May, of course, hopes that the gesture will soften Mr Macron towards the UK even after Brexit. "While this summit takes place as the UK prepares to leave the EU, we are and will remain a steadfast partner to our friends and allies, said Ms May at a joint press conference. “And a strong and deep relationship between the United Kingdom and France remains in both of our interests. The president and I agree on the importance of the UK-France relationship, not just to our security but to European security." When it came to the subject of Brexit and the EU, not even the finest partridge lunch seems to have helped. Macron was unmoved and continued to play hardball. "First of all, I'm going to be very clear with you: I am not here to reward or punish, the French President said. “ I am here to do the utmost to make sure that our mutual interests are defended. But I have one demand and that is that the single market is preserved. It is one of the benefits of the European Union and one of the bases of the European Union. So now the choice in on the British side, it's not on my side. There cannot be a differentiated access to the single market of which financial services are part.” It was a bittersweet parting. And just like in the famous novel by John Fowles, Monsieur Macron returned to France – leaving a windblown Ms May gazing across the channel in despair and pondering over their joint future after the formal divorce – Brexit – is through. But the flexible "Mr Plexiglas" - as some of his opponents call him - is already on to something new: a rendezvous with his all-time favourite lady. Her age is perfect – she’s 64. She is just as powerful as he is, Europeans say even more so. And the stars seem right since she is finally going to give Germany a long-awaited coalition government. Chancellor Angela Merkel will spend an afternoon on the banks of the Seine on Friday to celebrate an even longer alliance: 55 years of fraternité with France. Merkel brings Mr Macron the news he has been waiting for: that five months after Germany’s general election, the coalition between her conservatives and the Social Democrats will finally take shape. The two superpowers of the European Union are in synch: Macron is putting tough but necessary reforms in place - of the kind that have propelled Germany’s economy back on track. Ms Merkel and Mr Macron will aim at strengthening the Eurozone and aim at closer cooperation over the three issues closest to their hearts: defence, migration and climate change.

Emannuel Macron meets Theresa May, Angela Merkel as UK prepares to leave the EU

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering joining French President Emmanuel Macron at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week in what could turn into an epic clash of competing world views with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Merkel, who has been struggling to put together a government since a German election in September, had been expected to skip the annual gathering of leaders, CEOs, bankers and celebrities in the Swiss Alps for a third straight year.

But after clinching a preliminary coalition agreement with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Friday, German officials said Merkel could travel to Davos after all, possibly setting up a major confrontation with Trump, who is expected to speak on the final day of the forum.

An appearance would signal Merkel&#39;s return to the world stage after months of political limbo in which she has avoided the limelight and been dismissed by some in the German and international media as a spent force.

It would also allow her and Macron, who is scheduled to speak at the forum on Jan. 24, two days before Trump, to reaffirm their commitment to reforming the European Union after Britain&#39;s decision to leave, and to defend liberal democratic values in the face of Trump&#39;s &quot;America First&quot; policies.

Merkel&#39;s spokesman Steffen Seibert was coy last week when asked whether she might attend the WEF, which will run from Jan. 23-26 under the banner &quot;Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World&quot; and will attract some 60 heads of state and government.

But after clinching a preliminary deal with the SPD, the chances that she could attend appear to have risen. German officials said no final decision had been taken and that Merkel may wait for the outcome of an SPD congress in Bonn next Sunday - where the party will formally decide whether to enter coalition talks with her conservatives - before committing.

Officials at the WEF said they believed Merkel was still considering whether to attend. If she does, it is unlikely that she or Macron would overlap with Trump, who is expected to arrive on the afternoon of Jan. 25.

This year&#39;s forum will be opened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan. 23. Britain&#39;s Theresa May, Canada&#39;s Justin Trudeau and Israel&#39;s Benjamin Netanyahu are also expected, as well as celebrities such as actress Cate Blanchett and musician Elton John.

Last year&#39;s gathering took place in the week leading up to Trump&#39;s inauguration and was headlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who signalled his readiness to fill the vacuum in global leadership created by America&#39;s shift inward.

United in antipathy

Since then, Trump has pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade deal with Asian countries, announced a withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and threatened to torpedo an agreement between Western powers and Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear programme.

He has stirred fears of conflict with North Korea by engaging in an escalating war of words with its leader Kim Jong Un. Last week, he stirred international outrage by referring to Haiti and African nations as &quot;shithole countries&quot;, according to members of Congress who attended a meeting in the White House.

On Saturday, some 500 demonstrators marched in the Swiss capital Bern to protest against Trump&#39;s plans to attend the WEF.

&quot;There are very few things in the world that unite countries as much as their antipathy towards Trump and what he is doing,&quot; said Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, and a regular at Davos.

&quot;In the United States he may have 40 percent who approve of what he&#39;s doing. In the Davos crowd it is closer to 5 percent.&quot;

The visit by Trump will be the first by a U.S. president since Bill Clinton in 2000. He will be accompanied by a large delegation that is expected to include his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Merkel has had a frosty relationship with Trump, who accused her during his campaign for the presidency of &quot;ruining Germany&quot; by allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees, many fleeing war in the Middle East, into the country in 2015.

She was hailed in some Western media as the last defender of liberal democratic values after Trump&#39;s victory. Since then, the election of Macron, a pro-European centrist who, like Merkel, supports free trade and the global rules-based order, has given her a powerful ally in the confrontation with Trump.

Macron is slated to speak for 45 minutes in the evening of Jan. 24 in Davos, a ski resort in eastern Switzerland.

&quot;My instinct tells me that Macron will go big,&quot; said Robin Niblett, director of the Chatham House think tank in London. &quot;He won&#39;t just talk about Europe. He will try to take up the mantle of the free world under Europe&#39;s wing.&quot;

If he is joined by Merkel, who has made seven appearances at the WEF since becoming chancellor in 2005, that message may resonate even louder.

Merkel had been expected to skip the annual gathering of leaders, CEOs, bankers and celebrities in the Swiss Alps for a third straight year.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is considering joining French President Emmanuel Macron at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week in what could turn into an epic clash of competing world views with U.S. President Donald Trump. Merkel, who has been struggling to put together a government since a German election in September, had been expected to skip the annual gathering of leaders, CEOs, bankers and celebrities in the Swiss Alps for a third straight year. But after clinching a preliminary coalition agreement with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Friday, German officials said Merkel could travel to Davos after all, possibly setting up a major confrontation with Trump, who is expected to speak on the final day of the forum. An appearance would signal Merkel's return to the world stage after months of political limbo in which she has avoided the limelight and been dismissed by some in the German and international media as a spent force. It would also allow her and Macron, who is scheduled to speak at the forum on Jan. 24, two days before Trump, to reaffirm their commitment to reforming the European Union after Britain's decision to leave, and to defend liberal democratic values in the face of Trump's "America First" policies. Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert was coy last week when asked whether she might attend the WEF, which will run from Jan. 23-26 under the banner "Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World" and will attract some 60 heads of state and government. But after clinching a preliminary deal with the SPD, the chances that she could attend appear to have risen. German officials said no final decision had been taken and that Merkel may wait for the outcome of an SPD congress in Bonn next Sunday - where the party will formally decide whether to enter coalition talks with her conservatives - before committing. Officials at the WEF said they believed Merkel was still considering whether to attend. If she does, it is unlikely that she or Macron would overlap with Trump, who is expected to arrive on the afternoon of Jan. 25. This year's forum will be opened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan. 23. Britain's Theresa May, Canada's Justin Trudeau and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu are also expected, as well as celebrities such as actress Cate Blanchett and musician Elton John. Last year's gathering took place in the week leading up to Trump's inauguration and was headlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who signalled his readiness to fill the vacuum in global leadership created by America's shift inward. United in antipathy Since then, Trump has pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade deal with Asian countries, announced a withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and threatened to torpedo an agreement between Western powers and Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear programme. He has stirred fears of conflict with North Korea by engaging in an escalating war of words with its leader Kim Jong Un. Last week, he stirred international outrage by referring to Haiti and African nations as "shithole countries", according to members of Congress who attended a meeting in the White House. On Saturday, some 500 demonstrators marched in the Swiss capital Bern to protest against Trump's plans to attend the WEF. "There are very few things in the world that unite countries as much as their antipathy towards Trump and what he is doing," said Ian Bremmer, president of political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, and a regular at Davos. "In the United States he may have 40 percent who approve of what he's doing. In the Davos crowd it is closer to 5 percent." The visit by Trump will be the first by a U.S. president since Bill Clinton in 2000. He will be accompanied by a large delegation that is expected to include his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Merkel has had a frosty relationship with Trump, who accused her during his campaign for the presidency of "ruining Germany" by allowing hundreds of thousands of refugees, many fleeing war in the Middle East, into the country in 2015. She was hailed in some Western media as the last defender of liberal democratic values after Trump's victory. Since then, the election of Macron, a pro-European centrist who, like Merkel, supports free trade and the global rules-based order, has given her a powerful ally in the confrontation with Trump. Macron is slated to speak for 45 minutes in the evening of Jan. 24 in Davos, a ski resort in eastern Switzerland. "My instinct tells me that Macron will go big," said Robin Niblett, director of the Chatham House think tank in London. "He won't just talk about Europe. He will try to take up the mantle of the free world under Europe's wing." If he is joined by Merkel, who has made seven appearances at the WEF since becoming chancellor in 2005, that message may resonate even louder.

Merkel could join Macron in Davos for epic clash with Trump

Germany&#39;s veteran chancellor Angela Merkel, often called the world&#39;s most powerful woman, will embark on a fourth term with diminished influence and little vision for shaping Europe&#39;s future, analysts say.&nbsp;

After wrapping up more than 24 hours of talks Friday between her conservatives and the Social Democrats on forming a new &quot;grand coalition&quot; government, Merkel insisted the preliminary deal would break the deadlock in Germany and pave the way to a &quot;fresh start&quot; for Europe.

But before the ink was even dry on the roadmap for her new administration, observers branded Merkel and the team she&#39;s likely to lead a &quot;losers&#39;&quot; coalition with little ambition or power to tackle the major challenges facing the country and the continent.

&quot;In fact this &#39;grand coalition&#39; is only a mini-coalition with just 53 percent&quot; of seats in parliament following the September election that saw both parties cede millions of voters to the far-right, anti-immigration AfD party, political scientist Karl-Rudolf Korte of Duisburg-Essen University said.

This compares with the lavish, nearly 80-percent majority the parties enjoyed during Merkel&#39;s previous term, he told public broadcaster ZDF.

Merkel insisted the accord with the Social Democrats, which must still be approved by the party&#39;s rank and file, would ensure Germany&#39;s enduring stability and prosperity.

&quot;We will work earnestly, today and during the next term, to create the conditions so that we can also live well in Germany in the next 10 years and 15 years,&quot; she told reporters, flanked by SPD leader Martin Schulz and the head of Bavaria&#39;s Christian Social Union, Horst Seehofer. 
However influential news magazine Der Spiegel branded the alliance led by Merkel, who has been in power since 2005, a &quot;paleo-coalition&quot; of political dinosaurs bereft of fresh blood to propel renewal.

While France&#39;s young president Emmanuel Macron said he was &quot;happy&quot; about progress in ending Germany&#39;s four-month-long political limbo, critics at home savaged the tired-looking troupe.

&quot;The losers of the September election have come together again and you have to say that this programme blueprint doesn&#39;t even begin to address the problems in our society,&quot; charged Dietmar Bartsch, a leading figure with the far-left Linke opposition party. &nbsp;

Nicola Beer of the pro-business Free Democrats said the deal showed little imagination or &quot;future-oriented pragmatism&quot; and would thus feed disillusionment and support &quot;for the extreme right and left&quot; of the political spectrum.

The 28-page joint policy outlines included pledges to join France in a push to &quot;strengthen and reform&quot; the eurozone, to limit the influx of asylum seekers to Germany to around 200,000 a year, and to refrain from tax hikes given the healthy state coffers.

But the absence of grand new initiatives led political scientist Werner Patzelt of Dresden&#39;s Technical Institute to conclude that more-of-the-same from Berlin could boost the AfD in particular.

&quot;It will hand them success in upcoming state elections and they&#39;ll step up calls for Merkel to resign,&quot; he said, attributing her relative weakness to the record refugee influx in 2015 that undermined her standing with many voters.

Although Merkel stunned many observers abroad by winning re-election despite her controversial open-border stance, her struggle to form a viable coalition has revived speculation about the twilight of her reign. &nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;Angela Merkel is past her zenith,&quot; Oskar Niedermayer of Berlin&#39;s Free University told business daily Handelsblatt.

&quot;In the interest of her party&#39;s electoral strength, she should not stay in office for the entire legislative term&quot; running until 2021.

A majority of Germans now share this view according to a poll published this week, with 56 percent calling for her to leave the stage before the next scheduled elections.

Germany's veteran chancellor Angela Merkel, often called the world's most powerful woman, will embark on a fourth term with diminished influence and little vision for shaping Europe's future, analysts say

Germany's veteran chancellor Angela Merkel, often called the world's most powerful woman, will embark on a fourth term with diminished influence and little vision for shaping Europe's future, analysts say. After wrapping up more than 24 hours of talks Friday between her conservatives and the Social Democrats on forming a new "grand coalition" government, Merkel insisted the preliminary deal would break the deadlock in Germany and pave the way to a "fresh start" for Europe. But before the ink was even dry on the roadmap for her new administration, observers branded Merkel and the team she's likely to lead a "losers'" coalition with little ambition or power to tackle the major challenges facing the country and the continent. "In fact this 'grand coalition' is only a mini-coalition with just 53 percent" of seats in parliament following the September election that saw both parties cede millions of voters to the far-right, anti-immigration AfD party, political scientist Karl-Rudolf Korte of Duisburg-Essen University said. This compares with the lavish, nearly 80-percent majority the parties enjoyed during Merkel's previous term, he told public broadcaster ZDF. Merkel insisted the accord with the Social Democrats, which must still be approved by the party's rank and file, would ensure Germany's enduring stability and prosperity. "We will work earnestly, today and during the next term, to create the conditions so that we can also live well in Germany in the next 10 years and 15 years," she told reporters, flanked by SPD leader Martin Schulz and the head of Bavaria's Christian Social Union, Horst Seehofer. However influential news magazine Der Spiegel branded the alliance led by Merkel, who has been in power since 2005, a "paleo-coalition" of political dinosaurs bereft of fresh blood to propel renewal. While France's young president Emmanuel Macron said he was "happy" about progress in ending Germany's four-month-long political limbo, critics at home savaged the tired-looking troupe. "The losers of the September election have come together again and you have to say that this programme blueprint doesn't even begin to address the problems in our society," charged Dietmar Bartsch, a leading figure with the far-left Linke opposition party. Nicola Beer of the pro-business Free Democrats said the deal showed little imagination or "future-oriented pragmatism" and would thus feed disillusionment and support "for the extreme right and left" of the political spectrum. The 28-page joint policy outlines included pledges to join France in a push to "strengthen and reform" the eurozone, to limit the influx of asylum seekers to Germany to around 200,000 a year, and to refrain from tax hikes given the healthy state coffers. But the absence of grand new initiatives led political scientist Werner Patzelt of Dresden's Technical Institute to conclude that more-of-the-same from Berlin could boost the AfD in particular. "It will hand them success in upcoming state elections and they'll step up calls for Merkel to resign," he said, attributing her relative weakness to the record refugee influx in 2015 that undermined her standing with many voters. Although Merkel stunned many observers abroad by winning re-election despite her controversial open-border stance, her struggle to form a viable coalition has revived speculation about the twilight of her reign. "Angela Merkel is past her zenith," Oskar Niedermayer of Berlin's Free University told business daily Handelsblatt. "In the interest of her party's electoral strength, she should not stay in office for the entire legislative term" running until 2021. A majority of Germans now share this view according to a poll published this week, with 56 percent calling for her to leave the stage before the next scheduled elections.

Merkel risks leading weak 'losers' coalition for Germany

Opponents of a renewed German &quot;grand coalition&quot; took to the road on Saturday, hoping to persuade members of their Social Democratic Party (SPD) to vote against governing with Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives for another four years.

The party&#39;s rank-and-file, bruised after seeing the SPD&#39;s previous stint as Merkel&#39;s junior partner lead to its worst election result since 1933, is wary of its leaders&#39; calls for the party to step up for the sake of Germany&#39;s stability.

Leaders of the SPD and the conservative camp thrashed out a 28-page blueprint for a possible &quot;GroKo&quot; grand coalition government this week, recommending that their parties hold formal coalition talks.

But meeting in Wernigerode, a medieval town of half-timbered buildings at the foot of the thickly forested Harz hills, delegates at a regional party meeting wrestled with the issue, which has split the party down the middle.

&quot;Important demands that the SPD made ahead of the elections are simply not in the document,&quot; said Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD&#39;s Jusos youth wing, who will spend the next week criss-crossing the country arguing for delegates to vote &quot;No&quot; to coalition talks at a special party congress next Saturday.

&quot;We Jusos aren&#39;t going to make ourselves the servants of a Black (conservative) government that demands deportations or a refugee camp,&quot; said Florian Luedke, a local youth delegate wearing a &quot;NoGroKo&quot; badge, to applause.

The slump in the SPD vote in the Sept. 24 national election has left the membership in a contrary mood, with many calling for the party to reinvent itself in opposition rather than attempt to implement what they see as thin gruel in the coalition blueprint.

The document is sprinkled with pledges - on strengthening the European Union, on supporting refugees, on tax and pensions - designed to appeal to the more radical membership.

But most fall far short of what the SPD campaigned for in the election. A tax hike for the wealthy or the establishment of parity between private and public healthcare were absent from the document thrashed out with Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats (CDU) and her still more conservative Bavarian CSU allies.

&quot;DAMNED LONELY&quot;

The Jusos are angered particularly by the document containing an aspiration that migration not exceed 220,000 a year, dismissing it as an &quot;asylum cap by another name&quot;.

The SPD&#39;s branch in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany&#39;s largest state, also opposes a repeat of the coalition. Hit by the decline in the heavy industry that had provided its traditional voter base, it was toppled in the regional government by Merkel&#39;s CDU last year.

Even some senior party figures are not completely sold on the idea.

&quot;There is a great deal of scepticism,&quot; Manuela Schwesig, SPD state premier in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, told NDR Info radio.

Across the country, voters have deserted the SPD for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party or the Left party, formed from the ashes of the former East German Communist party.

Addressing the regional congress in Wernigerode, Social Democrat Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel urged delegates to resist the temptation to lick their wounds in opposition, urging them to use power to give people a reason to vote for them.

&quot;If you never make compromises you&#39;ll end up damned lonely, pretty quickly,&quot; Gabriel said. Only in power can the SPD advance policies that would win it votes, he added.

He praised the deal&#39;s commitment to strengthening the EU and tackling youth unemployment across the bloc, saying that in a world where U.S. President Donald Trump was an increasingly unreliable partner and China ever more powerful, social democracy was hard to achieve &quot;by national means&quot;.

On this, at least, the radical youth wing agreed with him.

&quot;There was lots of social democracy in the first bit on Europe, but after that it stops,&quot; Luebke said of the coalition blueprint. &quot;Vote against the Grand Coalition, and look for ways to renew our party.&quot;

The party's rank-and-file, bruised after seeing the SPD's previous stint as Merkel's junior partner lead to its worst election result since 1933, is wary of its leaders' calls for the party to step up for the sake of Germany's stability.

Opponents of a renewed German "grand coalition" took to the road on Saturday, hoping to persuade members of their Social Democratic Party (SPD) to vote against governing with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives for another four years. The party's rank-and-file, bruised after seeing the SPD's previous stint as Merkel's junior partner lead to its worst election result since 1933, is wary of its leaders' calls for the party to step up for the sake of Germany's stability. Leaders of the SPD and the conservative camp thrashed out a 28-page blueprint for a possible "GroKo" grand coalition government this week, recommending that their parties hold formal coalition talks. But meeting in Wernigerode, a medieval town of half-timbered buildings at the foot of the thickly forested Harz hills, delegates at a regional party meeting wrestled with the issue, which has split the party down the middle. "Important demands that the SPD made ahead of the elections are simply not in the document," said Kevin Kuehnert, leader of the SPD's Jusos youth wing, who will spend the next week criss-crossing the country arguing for delegates to vote "No" to coalition talks at a special party congress next Saturday. "We Jusos aren't going to make ourselves the servants of a Black (conservative) government that demands deportations or a refugee camp," said Florian Luedke, a local youth delegate wearing a "NoGroKo" badge, to applause. The slump in the SPD vote in the Sept. 24 national election has left the membership in a contrary mood, with many calling for the party to reinvent itself in opposition rather than attempt to implement what they see as thin gruel in the coalition blueprint. The document is sprinkled with pledges - on strengthening the European Union, on supporting refugees, on tax and pensions - designed to appeal to the more radical membership. But most fall far short of what the SPD campaigned for in the election. A tax hike for the wealthy or the establishment of parity between private and public healthcare were absent from the document thrashed out with Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and her still more conservative Bavarian CSU allies. "DAMNED LONELY" The Jusos are angered particularly by the document containing an aspiration that migration not exceed 220,000 a year, dismissing it as an "asylum cap by another name". The SPD's branch in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's largest state, also opposes a repeat of the coalition. Hit by the decline in the heavy industry that had provided its traditional voter base, it was toppled in the regional government by Merkel's CDU last year. Even some senior party figures are not completely sold on the idea. "There is a great deal of scepticism," Manuela Schwesig, SPD state premier in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, told NDR Info radio. Across the country, voters have deserted the SPD for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party or the Left party, formed from the ashes of the former East German Communist party. Addressing the regional congress in Wernigerode, Social Democrat Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel urged delegates to resist the temptation to lick their wounds in opposition, urging them to use power to give people a reason to vote for them. "If you never make compromises you'll end up damned lonely, pretty quickly," Gabriel said. Only in power can the SPD advance policies that would win it votes, he added. He praised the deal's commitment to strengthening the EU and tackling youth unemployment across the bloc, saying that in a world where U.S. President Donald Trump was an increasingly unreliable partner and China ever more powerful, social democracy was hard to achieve "by national means". On this, at least, the radical youth wing agreed with him. "There was lots of social democracy in the first bit on Europe, but after that it stops," Luebke said of the coalition blueprint. "Vote against the Grand Coalition, and look for ways to renew our party."

No Grand Coalition! Opponents of Merkel alliance hit the road

Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced optimism as she opened talks Sunday with Germany`s second-biggest party on renewing their alliance, in a new attempt at shaking Europe`s biggest economy out of paralysis after September`s inconclusive elections.

The week of meetings between Merkel`s conservative alliance and the Social Democrats (SPD) will examine whether both sides have enough common ground to begin formal coalition negotiations towards a new government by March or April.

&quot;I am going into these talks with optimism. At the same time it is clear to me that we will have an enormous amount of work in front of us over the next few days but we are willing to take it on and to bring a good result,&quot; Merkel told journalists as she arrived at the SPD`s headquarters for the meeting.

&quot;I think that it can be done. We will work very swiftly and very intensively,&quot; she added.

The talks are not without pitfalls -- including tricky questions surrounding the more than a million asylum seekers who have arrived in Germany since 2015.

The far-right anti-immigration AfD capitalised on growing misgivings in Germany over the new arrivals, winning more than 90 parliamentary seats in the watershed election.

Merkel was left without a majority, while the centre-left SPD found itself with its worst post-war score.

Anxious to stem the haemorrhage to the far right, the conservative wing of Merkel`s party, as well as her Bavarian allies CSU, are championing a tougher stance on immigration -- including demands that are unpalatable to the SPD.

With an eye on a regional election in Bavaria later this year, where current polls show that the CSU could lose its absolute majority, the party wants financial handouts to asylum seekers reduced.

Following several violent crimes involving refugees of uncertain age who claimed to be minors, the party also wants medical tests to determine if adult migrants are posing as under-18s. 
Nevertheless, CSU chief Horst Seehofer voiced his determination to find a deal with the SPD.

&quot;We must find an agreement,&quot; he said Sunday as he entered into the exploratory talks.SPD chief Martin Schulz meanwhile signalled that his party was going into the talks with an open mind, while determined to extract key concessions on social welfare reforms.

&quot;We`re not drawing any red lines, but we want as many red policies in Germany implemented as possible,&quot; he said, in a reference to his party`s colour.

The Social Democrats had initially vowed to go into opposition, but the collapse of coalition talks between Merkel and smaller parties pushed them to reconsider.

As the two sides square off at the negotiating table, the parties have agreed to decline media interviews, with publicity limited to joint statements.

The decision is aimed at preventing a rerun of Merkel`s previous failed attempt at forging a coalition late last year, when interviews given by negotiators soured the atmosphere.

Despite the two sides` apparent commitment to keeping it together, the latest opinion polls suggest that a potential new grand coalition enjoys little favour with Germans.

A survey published by Focus magazine found that 34 percent of Germans prefer new elections, while only 30 percent favoured a return of the conservative-SPD alliance.

Another poll published by public broadcaster ARD found that only 45 percent of Germans view a new grand coalition positively, while 52 percent considered this a bad option.

Rachel Tausendfreund from the German Marshall Fund think-tank noted however that a deal may be the best option, not only for Germany but also for Europe, particularly if the SPD manages to extract key compromises on EU and social welfare reforms.

&quot;It could indeed be dangerous for the SPD, but the alternative is by no means safe. Better to take a bullet for Europe than poison for a very uncertain chance at renewal.&quot;

The meeting will examine whether both sides have enough common ground to begin formal coalition negotiations

Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced optimism as she opened talks Sunday with Germany`s second-biggest party on renewing their alliance, in a new attempt at shaking Europe`s biggest economy out of paralysis after September`s inconclusive elections. The week of meetings between Merkel`s conservative alliance and the Social Democrats (SPD) will examine whether both sides have enough common ground to begin formal coalition negotiations towards a new government by March or April. "I am going into these talks with optimism. At the same time it is clear to me that we will have an enormous amount of work in front of us over the next few days but we are willing to take it on and to bring a good result," Merkel told journalists as she arrived at the SPD`s headquarters for the meeting. "I think that it can be done. We will work very swiftly and very intensively," she added. The talks are not without pitfalls -- including tricky questions surrounding the more than a million asylum seekers who have arrived in Germany since 2015. The far-right anti-immigration AfD capitalised on growing misgivings in Germany over the new arrivals, winning more than 90 parliamentary seats in the watershed election. Merkel was left without a majority, while the centre-left SPD found itself with its worst post-war score. Anxious to stem the haemorrhage to the far right, the conservative wing of Merkel`s party, as well as her Bavarian allies CSU, are championing a tougher stance on immigration -- including demands that are unpalatable to the SPD. With an eye on a regional election in Bavaria later this year, where current polls show that the CSU could lose its absolute majority, the party wants financial handouts to asylum seekers reduced. Following several violent crimes involving refugees of uncertain age who claimed to be minors, the party also wants medical tests to determine if adult migrants are posing as under-18s. Nevertheless, CSU chief Horst Seehofer voiced his determination to find a deal with the SPD. "We must find an agreement," he said Sunday as he entered into the exploratory talks.SPD chief Martin Schulz meanwhile signalled that his party was going into the talks with an open mind, while determined to extract key concessions on social welfare reforms. "We`re not drawing any red lines, but we want as many red policies in Germany implemented as possible," he said, in a reference to his party`s colour. The Social Democrats had initially vowed to go into opposition, but the collapse of coalition talks between Merkel and smaller parties pushed them to reconsider. As the two sides square off at the negotiating table, the parties have agreed to decline media interviews, with publicity limited to joint statements. The decision is aimed at preventing a rerun of Merkel`s previous failed attempt at forging a coalition late last year, when interviews given by negotiators soured the atmosphere. Despite the two sides` apparent commitment to keeping it together, the latest opinion polls suggest that a potential new grand coalition enjoys little favour with Germans. A survey published by Focus magazine found that 34 percent of Germans prefer new elections, while only 30 percent favoured a return of the conservative-SPD alliance. Another poll published by public broadcaster ARD found that only 45 percent of Germans view a new grand coalition positively, while 52 percent considered this a bad option. Rachel Tausendfreund from the German Marshall Fund think-tank noted however that a deal may be the best option, not only for Germany but also for Europe, particularly if the SPD manages to extract key compromises on EU and social welfare reforms. "It could indeed be dangerous for the SPD, but the alternative is by no means safe. Better to take a bullet for Europe than poison for a very uncertain chance at renewal."

Angela Merkel 'optimistic' in new bid to end political impasse

A year after an Islamic jihadist ploughed a truck into a Christmas market crowd, killing 12, Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet today with the victims&#39; families for the first time.

The private gathering on the eve of the anniversary of the atrocity comes against the backdrop of angry recriminations by many of the bereaved, who say official incompetence and neglect since the assault have inflicted fresh pain.

Merkel acknowledged Monday that &quot;some had wanted such a meeting earlier&quot; but pledged to listen the families&#39; concerns.

&quot;It is clear to me that their suffering, this complete transformation of their lives, cannot be put right,&quot; she told reporters ahead of the gathering.

&quot;But nevertheless we can show compassion and will improve the things that must be improved.&quot;

Last December 19 at 8:02 pm, Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian who had failed to obtain asylum, rammed a stolen truck into crowds at the market on the Breitscheidplatz, a popular destination for Berliners and tourists alike.

The victims came from Germany as well as countries including Israel, Italy, the Czech Republic and Ukraine.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility the next day, and Amri was shot and killed four days later by police in Italy, where he had previously lived.

More than 70 people were injured in the attack, the deadliest ever carried out by IS in Germany.

In a wrenching open letter to the chancellor this month, before the meeting was announced, several family members condemned her &quot;political inaction&quot; and accused her of failing to reach out to them.

&quot;Almost a year after the attack, we note that you have not shared your condolences with us either in person or in writing,&quot; the letter said.

&quot;In our opinion, this means that you are not living up to the responsibilities of your office.&quot;

A government-commissioned report released last week identified a litany of shortcomings in the response to the tragedy.

Some relatives desperately searching for their loved ones were told only three days after the attack that a family member had perished, even though they could have been given early warning through facial identification.

Others were sent &quot;bills for autopsies -- including warnings for late payment, I didn&#39;t want to believe it, but I had such a letter in hand,&quot; said the author of the report, Kurt Beck.

&quot;Such experiences should never be repeated,&quot; he said, adding that Germany &quot;was not prepared&quot; to deal with the attack&#39;s aftermath.

The government has paid out 1.6 million euros (USD 1.9 million) in compensation to the wounded and victims&#39; families.

Another factor keeping the wounds raw has been revelations in the media about administrative gaffes and missteps leading up to the attack.

Amri, who arrived in Germany in the summer of 2015, at the height of the refugee influx, registered under several different identities.

Authorities knew him to be an Islamist extremist and drug dealer whose asylum claim had been rejected and who was being intermittently monitored by police.

But Amri was never deported or arrested.

Merkel noted Monday that a parliamentary inquiry had been called to &quot;get to the bottom of all the questions surrounding the perpetrator&quot;.

A year after an Islamic jihadist ploughed a truck into a Christmas market crowd, killing 12, Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet today with the victims' families for the first time. The private gathering on the eve of the anniversary of the atrocity comes against the backdrop of angry recriminations by many of the bereaved, who say official incompetence and neglect since the assault have inflicted fresh pain. Merkel acknowledged Monday that "some had wanted such a meeting earlier" but pledged to listen the families' concerns. "It is clear to me that their suffering, this complete transformation of their lives, cannot be put right," she told reporters ahead of the gathering. "But nevertheless we can show compassion and will improve the things that must be improved." Last December 19 at 8:02 pm, Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian who had failed to obtain asylum, rammed a stolen truck into crowds at the market on the Breitscheidplatz, a popular destination for Berliners and tourists alike. The victims came from Germany as well as countries including Israel, Italy, the Czech Republic and Ukraine. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility the next day, and Amri was shot and killed four days later by police in Italy, where he had previously lived. More than 70 people were injured in the attack, the deadliest ever carried out by IS in Germany. In a wrenching open letter to the chancellor this month, before the meeting was announced, several family members condemned her "political inaction" and accused her of failing to reach out to them. "Almost a year after the attack, we note that you have not shared your condolences with us either in person or in writing," the letter said. "In our opinion, this means that you are not living up to the responsibilities of your office." A government-commissioned report released last week identified a litany of shortcomings in the response to the tragedy. Some relatives desperately searching for their loved ones were told only three days after the attack that a family member had perished, even though they could have been given early warning through facial identification. Others were sent "bills for autopsies -- including warnings for late payment, I didn't want to believe it, but I had such a letter in hand," said the author of the report, Kurt Beck. "Such experiences should never be repeated," he said, adding that Germany "was not prepared" to deal with the attack's aftermath. The government has paid out 1.6 million euros (USD 1.9 million) in compensation to the wounded and victims' families. Another factor keeping the wounds raw has been revelations in the media about administrative gaffes and missteps leading up to the attack. Amri, who arrived in Germany in the summer of 2015, at the height of the refugee influx, registered under several different identities. Authorities knew him to be an Islamist extremist and drug dealer whose asylum claim had been rejected and who was being intermittently monitored by police. But Amri was never deported or arrested. Merkel noted Monday that a parliamentary inquiry had been called to "get to the bottom of all the questions surrounding the perpetrator".

Merkel to meet bereaved one year after Christmas market attack

Germany&#39;s Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday stated that the German government does not support President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

&quot;The German Government does not support this position because the status of Jerusalem is to be resolved in the framework of a two-state solution,&quot; Merkel`s spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement on Twitter.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
More fallout from European allies: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says via government spokesman Steffen Seibert that Germany &#39;does not support&#39; position of the Trump administration on Jerusalem, whose &#39;status is to be settled as part of negotiations on a 2-state solution.&#39;
&mdash; Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) <a href="https://twitter.com/AymanM/status/938519021212794887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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US President Donald Trump fulfilled one of its campaign promises and reversed decades-long US policy after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-recognises-jerusalem-as-israels-capital-sparks-firestorm-26072" target="_blank">recognising Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital</a> earlier on Wednesday. The United States of America became the first country in the world to identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Official announcements were made with respect to shifting the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Here again, America becomes the first country to establish its embassy in Jerusalem.&nbsp;

Jerusalem is considered a sacred place, home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites. However, it is also a disputed territory, contested by both Israel and Palestine, which sees it as a capital of its future state.

(With inputs from Reuters)

US President Donald Trump fulfilled one of its campaign promises and reversed decades-long US policy after recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital earlier on Wednesday

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday stated that the German government does not support President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. "The German Government does not support this position because the status of Jerusalem is to be resolved in the framework of a two-state solution," Merkel`s spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement on Twitter. More fallout from European allies: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says via government spokesman Steffen Seibert that Germany 'does not support' position of the Trump administration on Jerusalem, whose 'status is to be settled as part of negotiations on a 2-state solution.' — Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) December 6, 2017 × US President Donald Trump fulfilled one of its campaign promises and reversed decades-long US policy after recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital earlier on Wednesday. The United States of America became the first country in the world to identify Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Official announcements were made with respect to shifting the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Here again, America becomes the first country to establish its embassy in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is considered a sacred place, home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites. However, it is also a disputed territory, contested by both Israel and Palestine, which sees it as a capital of its future state. (With inputs from Reuters)

Germany doesn't support Trump on Jerusalem, says Angela Merkel

The leaders of Germany&#39;s Social Democrats (SPD) agreed on Monday to enter talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s conservatives on forming a government that could end political deadlock in Europe&#39;s largest economy.

The centre-left SPD set the contours of its demands in coalition talks with the conservatives expected to start next year in a document seen by Reuters, with proposals on issues like the economy and immigration likely to cause friction.

Merkel turned to the SPD after she failed to form a three-way alliance with the left-leaning Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, plunging Germany into a political impasse and raising doubt about her future after 12 years in power.

On the highly divisive issue of immigration, one of the main reasons for the collapse of Merkel&#39;s first effort, the SPD said it opposed a conservative plan to extend a ban on the right to family reunions for some asylum seekers that expires in March.

&quot;Family reunions and the cohabitation of a family lead to good integration,&quot; the SPD document said. &quot;That&#39;s why we are against the extension the suspension of family reunions.&quot;

Merkel could also face complications emanating from her own conservative camp.

Her arch-conservative allies in Bavaria on Monday named a right-winger to be their candidate for the premiership in a regional election next year. The move raises the risk of disputes in Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc and weaken her hand as she negotiates with the SPD.

Markus Soeder will be the Christian Social Union (CSU) candidate for premier in a vote in the rich state of Bavaria next autumn where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to enter the regional parliament for the first time.

Macron or Merkel&#39;s Europe?

Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their sister party CSU bled support to the AfD in the general election on September 24 and the Bavaria-based CSU fears the far-right party will steal conservative voters angry with the chancellor&#39;s decision in 2015 to open Germany&#39;s door to more than a million asylum seekers.

The future of current Bavarian premier Horst Seehofer had been in question since the election. After the election losses, Merkel reluctantly accepted a CSU demand to put a limit on the number of asylum seekers Germany will accept each year.

The SPD did not stake out a position on the conservatives&#39;&nbsp;upper limit on refugees in their document.

The SPD, which has governed in coalition under Merkel since 2013, suffered its worst election result in postwar history and is reluctant to join another &quot;grand coalition&quot;.

It dropped its pledge to sit in opposition after Merkel failed to form a government, bowing to pressure from President Frank-Walter Steimeier to unwind the impasse.

The SPD will hold a party congress in Berlin on December 7-9, where it is expected to debate its position in coalition talks.

The future of the European Union and eurozone reforms championed by French President Emmanuel Macron are another policy issue that could complicate life for Merkel.

The SPD said during the election that Germany should embrace Macron`s proposals.

In its position document, the SPD said Germany should work with Macron on strengthening the European project through economic policies geared to fight high youths unemployment.

It did not mention key elements of Macron&#39;s demands that the eurozone should have its own budget and finance minister but it did mention his plan for closer cooperation in defence.

On the economy, the SPD&#39;s proposals for more rights for workers and employee-friendly regulation of the large temporary work sector could draw fire from the CSU.

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Merkel turned to the SPD after she failed to form a three-way alliance with the left-leaning Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, plunging Germany into a political impasse and raising doubt about her future after 12 years in power

The leaders of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) agreed on Monday to enter talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on forming a government that could end political deadlock in Europe's largest economy. The centre-left SPD set the contours of its demands in coalition talks with the conservatives expected to start next year in a document seen by Reuters, with proposals on issues like the economy and immigration likely to cause friction. Merkel turned to the SPD after she failed to form a three-way alliance with the left-leaning Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, plunging Germany into a political impasse and raising doubt about her future after 12 years in power. On the highly divisive issue of immigration, one of the main reasons for the collapse of Merkel's first effort, the SPD said it opposed a conservative plan to extend a ban on the right to family reunions for some asylum seekers that expires in March. "Family reunions and the cohabitation of a family lead to good integration," the SPD document said. "That's why we are against the extension the suspension of family reunions." Merkel could also face complications emanating from her own conservative camp. Her arch-conservative allies in Bavaria on Monday named a right-winger to be their candidate for the premiership in a regional election next year. The move raises the risk of disputes in Merkel's conservative bloc and weaken her hand as she negotiates with the SPD. Markus Soeder will be the Christian Social Union (CSU) candidate for premier in a vote in the rich state of Bavaria next autumn where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is set to enter the regional parliament for the first time. Macron or Merkel's Europe? Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and their sister party CSU bled support to the AfD in the general election on September 24 and the Bavaria-based CSU fears the far-right party will steal conservative voters angry with the chancellor's decision in 2015 to open Germany's door to more than a million asylum seekers. The future of current Bavarian premier Horst Seehofer had been in question since the election. After the election losses, Merkel reluctantly accepted a CSU demand to put a limit on the number of asylum seekers Germany will accept each year. The SPD did not stake out a position on the conservatives' upper limit on refugees in their document. The SPD, which has governed in coalition under Merkel since 2013, suffered its worst election result in postwar history and is reluctant to join another "grand coalition". It dropped its pledge to sit in opposition after Merkel failed to form a government, bowing to pressure from President Frank-Walter Steimeier to unwind the impasse. The SPD will hold a party congress in Berlin on December 7-9, where it is expected to debate its position in coalition talks. The future of the European Union and eurozone reforms championed by French President Emmanuel Macron are another policy issue that could complicate life for Merkel. The SPD said during the election that Germany should embrace Macron`s proposals. In its position document, the SPD said Germany should work with Macron on strengthening the European project through economic policies geared to fight high youths unemployment. It did not mention key elements of Macron's demands that the eurozone should have its own budget and finance minister but it did mention his plan for closer cooperation in defence. On the economy, the SPD's proposals for more rights for workers and employee-friendly regulation of the large temporary work sector could draw fire from the CSU.

Germany's SPD lay out position for talks with Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday she aimed to get a government in place as quickly as possible after she was left scrambling to find a way to govern when three-way coalition talks collapsed last Sunday.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/merkels-fourth-term-in-doubt-as-talks-on-forming-coalition-government-fail-24606">Merkel&#39;s fourth term in doubt as&nbsp;talks on forming coalition government fail</a>

&quot;Europe needs a strong Germany, it is desirable to get a government in place quickly,&quot; Merkel told a party meeting, adding, however, that her acting government was able to carry on day to day business in Europe`s biggest economy.

She added she was prepared to talk to the Social Democrats (SPD) after the centre-left party reversed an earlier decision and said it was prepared to talk to Merkel`s conservatives, but she stressed any talks should be based on mutual respect.&nbsp;

She added she was prepared to talk to the Social Democrats (SPD) after the centre-left party reversed an earlier decision and said it was prepared to talk to Merkel`s conservatives, but she stressed any talks should be based on mutual respect

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday she aimed to get a government in place as quickly as possible after she was left scrambling to find a way to govern when three-way coalition talks collapsed last Sunday. Also read: Merkel's fourth term in doubt as talks on forming coalition government fail "Europe needs a strong Germany, it is desirable to get a government in place quickly," Merkel told a party meeting, adding, however, that her acting government was able to carry on day to day business in Europe`s biggest economy. She added she was prepared to talk to the Social Democrats (SPD) after the centre-left party reversed an earlier decision and said it was prepared to talk to Merkel`s conservatives, but she stressed any talks should be based on mutual respect.

Germany's Merkel vows to get government in place quickly

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she was ready to lead her party into snap elections rather than risk leading an unstable minority government, after the collapse of coalition talks plunged Germany into a political crisis.

&quot;I&#39;m very sceptical&quot; about a minority government, Merkel told public broadcaster ARD, adding that &quot;new elections would be the better path&quot;.

In a separate interview with public broadcaster ZDF, Merkel emphasised that Germany needed a stable government &quot;that does not need to seek a majority for every decision&quot;.

The veteran leader also confirmed that she was ready to lead her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) into new elections and said she had not considered stepping down after 12 years in office.&nbsp;

Merkel has been forced to fight for her political future after high-stakes talks to form a coalition government failed overnight, potentially forcing Europe&#39;s biggest economy to hold new elections.

But a new vote could deliver results that are just as inconclusive as September&#39;s, which had prompted Merkel and her conservative CDU-CSU alliance to seek a partnership with the pro-business FDP and the ecologist Greens.

Merkel has been forced to fight for her political future after high-stakes talks to form a coalition government failed overnight, potentially forcing Europe's biggest economy to hold new elections

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she was ready to lead her party into snap elections rather than risk leading an unstable minority government, after the collapse of coalition talks plunged Germany into a political crisis. "I'm very sceptical" about a minority government, Merkel told public broadcaster ARD, adding that "new elections would be the better path". In a separate interview with public broadcaster ZDF, Merkel emphasised that Germany needed a stable government "that does not need to seek a majority for every decision". The veteran leader also confirmed that she was ready to lead her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) into new elections and said she had not considered stepping down after 12 years in office. Merkel has been forced to fight for her political future after high-stakes talks to form a coalition government failed overnight, potentially forcing Europe's biggest economy to hold new elections. But a new vote could deliver results that are just as inconclusive as September's, which had prompted Merkel and her conservative CDU-CSU alliance to seek a partnership with the pro-business FDP and the ecologist Greens.

Merkel says new elections 'would be better path' than minority government

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lesser-known-facts-about-angela-merkel-set-to-return-as-germanys-chancellor-20574">Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to reach a</a> compromise on Sunday night on forming a coalition government with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens over hot-button issues in Germany.

Merkel&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/germany-prominent-afd-leader-quits-party-hours-after-election-success-20651">conservative party has been trying</a> to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes but hasn&#39;t reached a deal on any issue. The deadline for talks on Sunday night passed with no announcement being made.

FDP leader Christian Lindner refused to rejoin talks putting Merkel&#39;s fourth term in office in peril.

&quot;Today there was no progress but rather there were setbacks because targeted compromises were questioned, it is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!,&quot; Lindner said.

Merkel would be forced to lead a minority government or call for fresh elections if the coalition fails to come together strengthing the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) which has consistently said it was against immigration in the country.

Julia Kloeckner, deputy chair of Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats said,&quot;Everyone has to take a success back home. People must ask themselves if they are prepared for this to fail over details.&quot;

However, the Greens are unmoved with future of talks in danger of collapsing completely.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Greens chairwoman Nicola Beer said: &quot;The FDP is now waiting for the Greens and the conservatives to see how far they are prepared to go and if we can then look each other in the eye.&quot;

Merkel&#39;s Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavaria&#39;s Christian Social Union now face an uncertain future with numbers in the German Parliament the Bundestag against them, the Greens and FDP are however unmoved.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Merkel's conservative party has been trying to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes

Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to reach a compromise on Sunday night on forming a coalition government with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens over hot-button issues in Germany. Merkel's conservative party has been trying to reach a comprise with the FDP and Greens over immigration, climate change, European Union and taxes but hasn't reached a deal on any issue. The deadline for talks on Sunday night passed with no announcement being made. FDP leader Christian Lindner refused to rejoin talks putting Merkel's fourth term in office in peril. "Today there was no progress but rather there were setbacks because targeted compromises were questioned, it is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!," Lindner said. Merkel would be forced to lead a minority government or call for fresh elections if the coalition fails to come together strengthing the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) which has consistently said it was against immigration in the country. Julia Kloeckner, deputy chair of Merkel's Christian Democrats said,"Everyone has to take a success back home. People must ask themselves if they are prepared for this to fail over details." However, the Greens are unmoved with future of talks in danger of collapsing completely. Greens chairwoman Nicola Beer said: "The FDP is now waiting for the Greens and the conservatives to see how far they are prepared to go and if we can then look each other in the eye." Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and Bavaria's Christian Social Union now face an uncertain future with numbers in the German Parliament the Bundestag against them, the Greens and FDP are however unmoved.

Merkel's fourth term in doubt as talks on forming coalition government fail

Germany&#39;s next finance minister should be politically independent of Chancellor Angela&nbsp;Merkel, the leader of the Free Democrats (FDP) said on Tuesday, rebuffing calls to keep the ministry in conservative hands.

Merkel&#39;s conservatives are poised to begin tricky three-way coalition talks with the pro-business FDP and the environmentalist Greens following an election last month in which her party suffered a sharp drop in support.

Wolfgang Schaeuble, a veteran member of&nbsp;Merkel&#39;s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is giving up the finance ministry after eight years to become president of the Bundestag lower house of parliament.

He has been temporarily replaced by&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;ally Peter Altmaier. But FDP leader Christian Lindner said the CDU should relinquish the post in a new government, rebuffing Volker Kauder, a senior Merkel&nbsp;ally, who said last week that the party should keep control of the ministry in order to safeguard Schaeuble&#39;s legacy.

&quot;I think the Chancellery and the finance ministry should be politically separate,&quot; Lindner told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. &quot;A Green, a CSU or an FDP finance minister - anything would be better than leaving the finance ministry in CDU hands.&quot;

Lindner was coy about whether he might do the job himself. The expectation is that the FDP will claim the ministry, but senior members of the party say, Lindner, who indicated during the election campaign that he might prefer to stay outside the cabinet, has not made up his mind yet.

In the interview, Lindner reiterated hardline FDP positions on Europe that appeared in the party&#39;s election programme, including calls for an insolvency mechanism for the eurozone and treaty changes to allow countries to exit the euro.

Lindner also voiced opposition to the idea of turning the euro zone&#39;s rescue mechanism, the ESM, into a more powerful European Monetary Fund, an idea supported by Schaeuble,&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;and French President Emmanuel Macron.

&quot;In a monetary union where the deficit rules of Maastricht are respected, there is no need for permanent rescue funds,&quot; Lindner said.

He came out against a common deposit insurance scheme for European banks and warnedMerkel&nbsp;and Altmaier against doing deals in Brussels before a new coalition government is in place.

&quot;Germany is not currently in a position to take decisions,&quot; Lindner said. &quot;For me, it is completely out of the question that a finance minister who is only there in an acting capacity negotiates in Brussels as if nothing has happened. No decisions can be taken without achieving a new political legitimacy.&quot;

The leader of Free Democrats Party said the next finance minister of Germany should be politically independent of Chancellor Angella Merkel

Germany's next finance minister should be politically independent of Chancellor Angela Merkel, the leader of the Free Democrats (FDP) said on Tuesday, rebuffing calls to keep the ministry in conservative hands. Merkel's conservatives are poised to begin tricky three-way coalition talks with the pro-business FDP and the environmentalist Greens following an election last month in which her party suffered a sharp drop in support. Wolfgang Schaeuble, a veteran member of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is giving up the finance ministry after eight years to become president of the Bundestag lower house of parliament. He has been temporarily replaced by Merkel ally Peter Altmaier. But FDP leader Christian Lindner said the CDU should relinquish the post in a new government, rebuffing Volker Kauder, a senior Merkel ally, who said last week that the party should keep control of the ministry in order to safeguard Schaeuble's legacy. "I think the Chancellery and the finance ministry should be politically separate," Lindner told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. "A Green, a CSU or an FDP finance minister - anything would be better than leaving the finance ministry in CDU hands." Lindner was coy about whether he might do the job himself. The expectation is that the FDP will claim the ministry, but senior members of the party say, Lindner, who indicated during the election campaign that he might prefer to stay outside the cabinet, has not made up his mind yet. In the interview, Lindner reiterated hardline FDP positions on Europe that appeared in the party's election programme, including calls for an insolvency mechanism for the eurozone and treaty changes to allow countries to exit the euro. Lindner also voiced opposition to the idea of turning the euro zone's rescue mechanism, the ESM, into a more powerful European Monetary Fund, an idea supported by Schaeuble, Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. "In a monetary union where the deficit rules of Maastricht are respected, there is no need for permanent rescue funds," Lindner said. He came out against a common deposit insurance scheme for European banks and warnedMerkel and Altmaier against doing deals in Brussels before a new coalition government is in place. "Germany is not currently in a position to take decisions," Lindner said. "For me, it is completely out of the question that a finance minister who is only there in an acting capacity negotiates in Brussels as if nothing has happened. No decisions can be taken without achieving a new political legitimacy."

Merkel's CDU must relinquish finance ministry: FDP leader

Chancellor Angela&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;said her conservative bloc would&nbsp;begin&nbsp;exploratory talks&nbsp;next&nbsp;week&nbsp;on forming a three-way&nbsp;German&nbsp;coalition&nbsp;government with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the environmentalist Greens.

Merkel&#39;s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), would hold&nbsp;talks&nbsp;with the FDP and Greens separately&nbsp;next&nbsp;Wednesday, she said.

&quot;Then on Friday, October 20th we will have the first round of exploratory&nbsp;talks&nbsp;with all partners,&quot; Merkel&nbsp;told a joint news conference with CSU leader Horst Seehofer on Monday.

Merkel&#39;s CDU appeared to make a concession to the CSU on Sunday by agreeing to put a number on how many people&nbsp;Germany would accept per year on humanitarian grounds.&nbsp;Merkel said she was pleased with the compromise, which was &quot;a very, very good basis to go into exploratory&nbsp;talks&quot;.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said, her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), would hold?talks?with the FDP and Greens separately?next?Wednesday

Chancellor Angela Merkel said her conservative bloc would begin exploratory talks next week on forming a three-way German coalition government with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and the environmentalist Greens. Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), would hold talks with the FDP and Greens separately next Wednesday, she said. "Then on Friday, October 20th we will have the first round of exploratory talks with all partners," Merkel told a joint news conference with CSU leader Horst Seehofer on Monday. Merkel's CDU appeared to make a concession to the CSU on Sunday by agreeing to put a number on how many people Germany would accept per year on humanitarian grounds. Merkel said she was pleased with the compromise, which was "a very, very good basis to go into exploratory talks".

Three-way coalition talks next week: Merkel

Germany&#39;s Angela&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;began the tough task of trying to build a&nbsp;coalition government on Monday&nbsp;after<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/angela-merkel-wins-a-fourth-term-in-office-but-it-wont-be-an-easy-one-20593">&nbsp;securing a fourth term as chancellor</a> in an election which saw her support slide and the far right making significant gains.

Damaged by her decision two years ago to allow one million migrants into Germany,&nbsp;Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc secured 33 percent of the&nbsp;vote, losing 8.5 points, its lowest level since 1949. Her&nbsp;coalition&nbsp;partners, the centre-left Social Democrats, also slumped and said they would go into opposition.

Voters flocked to the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), the first far-right party to enter the German parliament in more than half a century. However, the AfD hardly had time to savour its third-place showing before it fell into internal bickering.

Many Germans see the rise of the AfD as a similar rejection of the status quo as&nbsp;votes for Brexit and Donald Trump last year. But Germany&#39;s political centre held up better than in Britain and the United States as more&nbsp;voters have benefited from globalisation and most shun the country&#39;s extremist past.

Merkel&#39;s party remained the biggest parliamentary bloc and Europe&#39;s most powerful leader said her conservatives would set about building the next government. She said she was sure a coalition&nbsp;would be agreed by Christmas.

Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democrats that have governed with&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;since 2013, said his party had no choice but to go into opposition&nbsp;after&nbsp;dropping to a post-war low of 20.5 percent.

&quot;We have understood our task -- to be a strong opposition in this country and to defend democracy against those who question it and attack it,&quot; Schulz told party members to applause.

Investors were unsettled by the prospect of a weaker&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;at the head of a potentially unstable coalition&nbsp;with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens, dubbed &quot;Jamaica&quot; as the parties&#39; black, yellow and green colours mirror its flag.

They are also worried that months of&nbsp;coalition&nbsp;talks could distract from negotiations with Britain over its divorce from the European Union and efforts to push further integration. The euro and European stocks slipped on Monday.

&quot;The weak result could make Angela&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;a lame duck much faster than international observers and financial markets think,&quot; ING economist Carsten Brzeski said.

Klaus Wohlrabe, an economist at the Munich-based Ifo economic institute, said new elections could not be excluded and the result could stoke uncertainty as German business confidence deteriorated unexpectedly in the weeks before the election.

DIVISIONS

Many Germans were alarmed by the rise of a party likened by the foreign minister to Nazis. Protesters threw stones and bottles at police outside the AfD&#39;s campaign party in Berlin on Sunday evening.

But just a day&nbsp;after&nbsp;the election, the AfD showed signs of fracturing as co-leader Frauke Petry, one its most prominent faces, said she would not sit in parliament with AfD members. It was not immediately clear why she was making such a move.

The election also exposed divisions in&nbsp;Merkel&#39;s conservatives, with her allies the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) demanding a shift to the right to win back&nbsp;voters lost to the AfD.

The CSU, which lost heavily to the AfD in Bavaria, faces regional elections next year.

&quot;They will try their best to recover lost ground on the right side of the political spectrum. Going into a&nbsp;coalition&nbsp;in Berlin with the Greens and the FDP will make this more difficult,&quot; said Janis Emmanouilidis from the European Policy Centre.

CDU Saxony Anhalt premier Reiner Haseloff called for the party to do more to address&nbsp;voter fears over immigration policy, while other party members warned against shifting to the right.

Leading AfD candidate, Alexander Gauland, gave a foretaste of the hostile new tone expected in parliament, saying it would &quot;hound&quot;&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;and &quot;get our country and our people back&quot;.

Industry leaders urged&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;to move fast to build a government.

&quot;Our companies need clear signals. Now it&#39;s all about averting damage to Germany as a place of business,&quot; Dieter Kempf, president of the BDI industry association, said.

After&nbsp;the SPD ruled out another &quot;grand&nbsp;coalition&quot;,&nbsp;Merkel&#39;s only other choice is to pursue a three-way&nbsp;partnership between her conservatives, the FDP and the Greens.

Such an alliance could be fragile due to deep differences on issues from migrants to tax, the environment and Europe.

In particular, the prospect of&nbsp;Merkel&nbsp;sharing power with the FDP is likely to create problems for deeper integration of the eurozone as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Damaged by her decision two years ago to allow one million migrants into Germany,?Merkel's conservative bloc secured 33 percent of the?vote, losing 8.5 points.

Germany's Angela Merkel began the tough task of trying to build a coalition government on Monday after securing a fourth term as chancellor in an election which saw her support slide and the far right making significant gains. Damaged by her decision two years ago to allow one million migrants into Germany, Merkel's conservative bloc secured 33 percent of the vote, losing 8.5 points, its lowest level since 1949. Her coalition partners, the centre-left Social Democrats, also slumped and said they would go into opposition. Voters flocked to the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), the first far-right party to enter the German parliament in more than half a century. However, the AfD hardly had time to savour its third-place showing before it fell into internal bickering. Many Germans see the rise of the AfD as a similar rejection of the status quo as votes for Brexit and Donald Trump last year. But Germany's political centre held up better than in Britain and the United States as more voters have benefited from globalisation and most shun the country's extremist past. Merkel's party remained the biggest parliamentary bloc and Europe's most powerful leader said her conservatives would set about building the next government. She said she was sure a coalition would be agreed by Christmas. Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democrats that have governed with Merkel since 2013, said his party had no choice but to go into opposition after dropping to a post-war low of 20.5 percent. "We have understood our task -- to be a strong opposition in this country and to defend democracy against those who question it and attack it," Schulz told party members to applause. Investors were unsettled by the prospect of a weaker Merkel at the head of a potentially unstable coalition with the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens, dubbed "Jamaica" as the parties' black, yellow and green colours mirror its flag. They are also worried that months of coalition talks could distract from negotiations with Britain over its divorce from the European Union and efforts to push further integration. The euro and European stocks slipped on Monday. "The weak result could make Angela Merkel a lame duck much faster than international observers and financial markets think," ING economist Carsten Brzeski said. Klaus Wohlrabe, an economist at the Munich-based Ifo economic institute, said new elections could not be excluded and the result could stoke uncertainty as German business confidence deteriorated unexpectedly in the weeks before the election. DIVISIONS Many Germans were alarmed by the rise of a party likened by the foreign minister to Nazis. Protesters threw stones and bottles at police outside the AfD's campaign party in Berlin on Sunday evening. But just a day after the election, the AfD showed signs of fracturing as co-leader Frauke Petry, one its most prominent faces, said she would not sit in parliament with AfD members. It was not immediately clear why she was making such a move. The election also exposed divisions in Merkel's conservatives, with her allies the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) demanding a shift to the right to win back voters lost to the AfD. The CSU, which lost heavily to the AfD in Bavaria, faces regional elections next year. "They will try their best to recover lost ground on the right side of the political spectrum. Going into a coalition in Berlin with the Greens and the FDP will make this more difficult," said Janis Emmanouilidis from the European Policy Centre. CDU Saxony Anhalt premier Reiner Haseloff called for the party to do more to address voter fears over immigration policy, while other party members warned against shifting to the right. Leading AfD candidate, Alexander Gauland, gave a foretaste of the hostile new tone expected in parliament, saying it would "hound" Merkel and "get our country and our people back". Industry leaders urged Merkel to move fast to build a government. "Our companies need clear signals. Now it's all about averting damage to Germany as a place of business," Dieter Kempf, president of the BDI industry association, said. After the SPD ruled out another "grand coalition", Merkel's only other choice is to pursue a three-way partnership between her conservatives, the FDP and the Greens. Such an alliance could be fragile due to deep differences on issues from migrants to tax, the environment and Europe. In particular, the prospect of Merkel sharing power with the FDP is likely to create problems for deeper integration of the eurozone as proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Merkel looks for coalition partners after vote

Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to cruise to victory in elections Sunday but also to face the breakthrough into parliament of hard-right populists for the first time in Germany&#39;s post-war history.

Voting begins at 0600 GMT in Europe&#39;s biggest economy and exit polls are announced at 1600 GMT, with few expecting surprises given Merkel&#39;s double-digit poll lead.

For months, the woman now dubbed the &quot;eternal chancellor&quot; has been the favourite over her centre-left rival Martin Schulz and looked set to win another term and match the 16-year reign of her mentor Helmut Kohl.

To many in the West, a fourth Merkel victory will come as a relief in a turbulent world, with hopes she will serve as a calm-headed counterweight to US President Donald Trump and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin and as the key EU ally to reformist French President Emmanuel Macron.

But the election is also expected to mark a milestone for the four-year-old Alternative for Germany (AfD) which, like right-wing populists elsewhere, rails against migrants, Muslims and mainstream parties.

It has been polling at 11-13 percent and could become Germany&#39;s third strongest party, driven by anger over the influx of one million migrants and refugees, many from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, since 2015.

&quot;The AfD&#39;s entry into the Bundestag marks an epochal step forward for the far right,&quot; said Joerg Forbrig of think-tank the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

By entering parliament, he said, &quot;the xenophobic, revisionist and anti-European political force&quot; will have heightened visibility and access to campaign finance, dozens of offices and hundreds of staff.

After a &quot;vicious&quot; campaign, in which the AfD demanded an end to German guilt over two world wars, Forbig warned that &quot;German democracy is about to face its biggest stress test ever&quot;.

At Merkel&#39;s final major stump speech Friday in the southern city of Munich, right-wing activists tried to drown her out with whistles and vuvuzelas and chants of &quot;get lost&quot;.

But the 63-year-old refused to be derailed from her stability-and-prosperity mantra, telling the crowd that &quot;the future of Germany will definitely not be built with whistles and hollers&quot;.

Schulz, for his part, recalled with pride the SPD&#39;s history of resisting the Nazi regime and told a Berlin rally that &quot;this Alternative for Germany is no alternative. They are a shame for our nation.&quot;

Aside from the populist noise, the past two months of campaigning have been widely criticised as lacklustre, with few hot-button issues dividing the main contenders.

The more outspoken Schulz, former president of the European Parliament, has told voters to reject Merkel&#39;s &quot;sleeping-pill politics&quot; and vote against &quot;another four years of stagnation and lethargy&quot;.

In greying Germany, more than half of the 61 million voters are aged 52 or older, and especially Merkel&#39;s conservatives have pitched a low-key and reassuring message of stability and prosperity.

On Saturday, Merkel -- who has signalled she was running again mainly out of a sense of duty -- urged her supporters to cast their ballots with a folksy call to &quot;bring home the bacon&quot;.

For the past term, Merkel&#39;s CDU has ruled with the SPD as its junior partner in a &quot;grand coalition&quot;, marked by broad agreement on major topics, from foreign policy to migration.

Governing in Merkel&#39;s shadow has cost the SPD voter support, and polls give it 21-22 percent compared to 34-36 percent for Merkel&#39;s conservative bloc, which also includes the Bavarian CSU.

Looking at the surveys, many rank-and-file SPD members believe the traditional working class party would benefit from a stint in opposition to rekindle its fighting spirit.

This would leave the presumed winner Merkel in need of new coalition partners -- possibly the liberal and pro-business Free Democrats, who are hoping for a comeback after crashing out of parliament four years ago.

Another potential partner would be the ecologist and left-leaning Greens party, which, however, starkly differs with the FDP on issues from climate change to migration policy.

For months, she is dubbed as the "eternal chancellor" and has been a favourite over her centre-left rival Martin Schulz

Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to cruise to victory in elections Sunday but also to face the breakthrough into parliament of hard-right populists for the first time in Germany's post-war history. Voting begins at 0600 GMT in Europe's biggest economy and exit polls are announced at 1600 GMT, with few expecting surprises given Merkel's double-digit poll lead. For months, the woman now dubbed the "eternal chancellor" has been the favourite over her centre-left rival Martin Schulz and looked set to win another term and match the 16-year reign of her mentor Helmut Kohl. To many in the West, a fourth Merkel victory will come as a relief in a turbulent world, with hopes she will serve as a calm-headed counterweight to US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin and as the key EU ally to reformist French President Emmanuel Macron. But the election is also expected to mark a milestone for the four-year-old Alternative for Germany (AfD) which, like right-wing populists elsewhere, rails against migrants, Muslims and mainstream parties. It has been polling at 11-13 percent and could become Germany's third strongest party, driven by anger over the influx of one million migrants and refugees, many from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, since 2015. "The AfD's entry into the Bundestag marks an epochal step forward for the far right," said Joerg Forbrig of think-tank the German Marshall Fund of the United States. By entering parliament, he said, "the xenophobic, revisionist and anti-European political force" will have heightened visibility and access to campaign finance, dozens of offices and hundreds of staff. After a "vicious" campaign, in which the AfD demanded an end to German guilt over two world wars, Forbig warned that "German democracy is about to face its biggest stress test ever". At Merkel's final major stump speech Friday in the southern city of Munich, right-wing activists tried to drown her out with whistles and vuvuzelas and chants of "get lost". But the 63-year-old refused to be derailed from her stability-and-prosperity mantra, telling the crowd that "the future of Germany will definitely not be built with whistles and hollers". Schulz, for his part, recalled with pride the SPD's history of resisting the Nazi regime and told a Berlin rally that "this Alternative for Germany is no alternative. They are a shame for our nation." Aside from the populist noise, the past two months of campaigning have been widely criticised as lacklustre, with few hot-button issues dividing the main contenders. The more outspoken Schulz, former president of the European Parliament, has told voters to reject Merkel's "sleeping-pill politics" and vote against "another four years of stagnation and lethargy". In greying Germany, more than half of the 61 million voters are aged 52 or older, and especially Merkel's conservatives have pitched a low-key and reassuring message of stability and prosperity. On Saturday, Merkel -- who has signalled she was running again mainly out of a sense of duty -- urged her supporters to cast their ballots with a folksy call to "bring home the bacon". For the past term, Merkel's CDU has ruled with the SPD as its junior partner in a "grand coalition", marked by broad agreement on major topics, from foreign policy to migration. Governing in Merkel's shadow has cost the SPD voter support, and polls give it 21-22 percent compared to 34-36 percent for Merkel's conservative bloc, which also includes the Bavarian CSU. Looking at the surveys, many rank-and-file SPD members believe the traditional working class party would benefit from a stint in opposition to rekindle its fighting spirit. This would leave the presumed winner Merkel in need of new coalition partners -- possibly the liberal and pro-business Free Democrats, who are hoping for a comeback after crashing out of parliament four years ago. Another potential partner would be the ecologist and left-leaning Greens party, which, however, starkly differs with the FDP on issues from climate change to migration policy.

Merkel heads for German poll win, hard-right AfD for first seats

Angela Merkel will continue as chancellor of Germany. But following an <a href="https://theconversation.com/uk/politics">election</a> that saw the rise of <a href="http://www.focus.de/politik/praxistipps/erste-hochrechnungen-die-aktuelle-prognose-zum-ergebnis-der-bundestagswahl-2017_id_7631195.html">smaller parties</a> &ndash; most notably the far right &ndash; her fourth term will probably be an eventful one in ways, she would not wish for.

The Union parties (Merkel&rsquo;s CDU and sister party CSU) finished in top place with just under 33%. They did nevertheless lose almost 9% over their previous election result of 2013.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD), coalition partner to the Union parties, finished a distant second, with just over 20% of the vote. For the SPD, this is a historic low: almost 6% down on the last election. Party leader Martin Schulz failed to come up to scratch in a lacklustre campaign.

Four smaller parties have managed to meet the 5% threshold to qualify for seats in parliament.

The right-wing populist party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), achieved a dubious milestone in post-war German history. With a vote share of 12.5%, it will be the first overtly far-right nationalist party to enter the federal parliament.

The Left Party (die Linke) and the Green Party (B&uuml;ndnis &lsquo;90/die Gr&uuml;nen) made marginal gains to score 9% and just over 9% respectively. Big gains went to one party that had been more or less written off after the last election and to another that many commentators hoped never to see in parliament at the federal level. The liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) rose from the ashes to return to parliament under their charismatic new leader Christian Lindner. With 10.7% of the vote, the party more than doubled its tally of the last election.

Forming a government

The new government will need to control 316 seats in the parliament to achieve the majority needed to take office. While probably technically possible, a continuation of the current Grand Coalition (GroKo) between CDU/CSU and SPD now seems unlikely.

Having sent mixed messages before the election, the SPD declared after the close of polls that it aims to work as an <a href="http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/bundestagswahl_2017/bundestagswahl-2017-im-live-ticker-wahlbeteiligung-bislang-schwaecher-als-2013_id_7631710.html">opposition</a> party in the new parliament.

With the AfD and die Linke ruled out of a CDU/CSU-based coalition on ideological grounds, this leaves the possibility of a so-called Jamaica coalition of CDU/CSU, FDP and the Greens (the parties&rsquo; traditional colours of black, green and yellow tally with the Jamaican flag). However, this option is no foregone conclusion and could prove very unpopular with voters.

All roads lead to Merkel

Despite the consistency of the polls over the past few weeks, an unprecedented number of German voters &ndash; <a href="http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/bundestagswahl/bundestagswahl-2017-entscheidet-die-taktik-der-waehler-15212740.html">around 40%</a> &ndash; remained undecided as late as a week before the election.

The uncertainty was palpable in an unusually nervy, volatile mood among the electorate. <a href="https://www.pocketstory.com/der-spiegel/sicherheit-und-wut">Psychologist Stephan Gr&uuml;newald</a> noted odd swings in public perceptions of the Merkel government&rsquo;s achievements. One minute Germany was a &ldquo;desolate land&rdquo;, the next an &ldquo;island of prosperity&rdquo;.

Germans are well aware of their relative prosperity in Europe but seem to have been traumatised by the impact of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41147362">migrant crisis</a> within their borders. Anxiety runs high over international tensions and there is a fear that Germany&rsquo;s economic security is under threat. At one level, people could hardly be bothered about the election. Even so, social media posts exploded with rage and Merkel&rsquo;s car was <a href="http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/bundestagswahl/merkels-wagen-mit-tomaten-beworfen-15190057.html">pelted with tomatoes</a> at appearances in the east &ndash; her home territory.

The voters sensed that a change was overdue but calculated that in practice all votes &ndash; other than for the radical outliers of the Left Party and AfD &ndash; would trickle back to Merkel. Ironically, the opposition parties fed the perception that there was no alternative to Merkel.

Before election day, all of the remaining mainstream parties &ndash; SPD, Greens and FDP &ndash; had seemed open to the idea of joining a coalition. With the Union parties bossing the polls at around 36% and the SPD well behind at around 22%, it was clear that any continuation of the GroKo would be led by Merkel, not Schulz.

Even after three terms in office and after testing the forbearance of the German public with her open doors asylum policy, 56% claimed in polling that they would rather see her <a href="http://www.forschungsgruppe.de/Aktuelles/Politbarometer/">remain chancellor</a> while only 32% favoured Schulz. With neither the mainstream parties nor the voters daring to rock the boat, Merkel barely needed to campaign.

But now she faces another set of challenges before she can forge a new government. Before the election, it was thought that the higher the vote for the AfD, the greater the likelihood that the vote of the other smaller parties would be squeezed, making a continuation of the crumbling CDU/CSU-SPD partnership unavoidable. Instead, it was the vote of the two main parties that was squeezed, apparently convincing the SPD that there was no future for it in a Merkel-led GroKo. Now Merkel must try to make a pact with two parties that will stretch the comfort zone of an already broad Union church.

<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/84578/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" />Also, the higher the vote for the AfD, the greater the pressure that the CSU, the CDU&rsquo;s more conservative and reactionary Bavarian sister party, can exert on the content of the government&rsquo;s coalition agreement and on future policy direction. Horst Seehofer, the leader of the CSU, had already announced his intention of driving the Union parties further to the right in the post-election coalition negotiations. The strident entry of the AfD into parliament will help him to justify his demands, including a more <a href="https://theconversation.com/angela-merkels-election-manifesto-attempts-to-rebrand-refugees-80447">rigorous immigration control policy</a>. With the CSU suffering a historic low of 38.5% &ndash; a drop of almost <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/csu-stuerzt-in-bayern-auf-niedrigstes-ergebnis-seit-1949-a-1169590.html">11% of the vote</a> &ndash; in its Bavarian constituency, it will be sure to press even harder for conservative reforms.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/angela-merkel-wins-a-fourth-term-in-office-but-it-wont-be-an-easy-one-84578">original article</a>.

&nbsp;

Angela Merkel maintains her pre-eminence and leads to the challenging fourth term

Angela Merkel will continue as chancellor of Germany. But following an election that saw the rise of smaller parties – most notably the far right – her fourth term will probably be an eventful one in ways, she would not wish for. The Union parties (Merkel’s CDU and sister party CSU) finished in top place with just under 33%. They did nevertheless lose almost 9% over their previous election result of 2013. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), coalition partner to the Union parties, finished a distant second, with just over 20% of the vote. For the SPD, this is a historic low: almost 6% down on the last election. Party leader Martin Schulz failed to come up to scratch in a lacklustre campaign. Four smaller parties have managed to meet the 5% threshold to qualify for seats in parliament. The right-wing populist party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), achieved a dubious milestone in post-war German history. With a vote share of 12.5%, it will be the first overtly far-right nationalist party to enter the federal parliament. The Left Party (die Linke) and the Green Party (Bündnis ‘90/die Grünen) made marginal gains to score 9% and just over 9% respectively. Big gains went to one party that had been more or less written off after the last election and to another that many commentators hoped never to see in parliament at the federal level. The liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) rose from the ashes to return to parliament under their charismatic new leader Christian Lindner. With 10.7% of the vote, the party more than doubled its tally of the last election. Forming a government The new government will need to control 316 seats in the parliament to achieve the majority needed to take office. While probably technically possible, a continuation of the current Grand Coalition (GroKo) between CDU/CSU and SPD now seems unlikely. Having sent mixed messages before the election, the SPD declared after the close of polls that it aims to work as an opposition party in the new parliament. With the AfD and die Linke ruled out of a CDU/CSU-based coalition on ideological grounds, this leaves the possibility of a so-called Jamaica coalition of CDU/CSU, FDP and the Greens (the parties’ traditional colours of black, green and yellow tally with the Jamaican flag). However, this option is no foregone conclusion and could prove very unpopular with voters. All roads lead to Merkel Despite the consistency of the polls over the past few weeks, an unprecedented number of German voters – around 40% – remained undecided as late as a week before the election. The uncertainty was palpable in an unusually nervy, volatile mood among the electorate. Psychologist Stephan Grünewald noted odd swings in public perceptions of the Merkel government’s achievements. One minute Germany was a “desolate land”, the next an “island of prosperity”. Germans are well aware of their relative prosperity in Europe but seem to have been traumatised by the impact of the migrant crisis within their borders. Anxiety runs high over international tensions and there is a fear that Germany’s economic security is under threat. At one level, people could hardly be bothered about the election. Even so, social media posts exploded with rage and Merkel’s car was pelted with tomatoes at appearances in the east – her home territory. The voters sensed that a change was overdue but calculated that in practice all votes – other than for the radical outliers of the Left Party and AfD – would trickle back to Merkel. Ironically, the opposition parties fed the perception that there was no alternative to Merkel. Before election day, all of the remaining mainstream parties – SPD, Greens and FDP – had seemed open to the idea of joining a coalition. With the Union parties bossing the polls at around 36% and the SPD well behind at around 22%, it was clear that any continuation of the GroKo would be led by Merkel, not Schulz. Even after three terms in office and after testing the forbearance of the German public with her open doors asylum policy, 56% claimed in polling that they would rather see her remain chancellor while only 32% favoured Schulz. With neither the mainstream parties nor the voters daring to rock the boat, Merkel barely needed to campaign. But now she faces another set of challenges before she can forge a new government. Before the election, it was thought that the higher the vote for the AfD, the greater the likelihood that the vote of the other smaller parties would be squeezed, making a continuation of the crumbling CDU/CSU-SPD partnership unavoidable. Instead, it was the vote of the two main parties that was squeezed, apparently convincing the SPD that there was no future for it in a Merkel-led GroKo. Now Merkel must try to make a pact with two parties that will stretch the comfort zone of an already broad Union church. Also, the higher the vote for the AfD, the greater the pressure that the CSU, the CDU’s more conservative and reactionary Bavarian sister party, can exert on the content of the government’s coalition agreement and on future policy direction. Horst Seehofer, the leader of the CSU, had already announced his intention of driving the Union parties further to the right in the post-election coalition negotiations. The strident entry of the AfD into parliament will help him to justify his demands, including a more rigorous immigration control policy. With the CSU suffering a historic low of 38.5% – a drop of almost 11% of the vote – in its Bavarian constituency, it will be sure to press even harder for conservative reforms. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Angela Merkel wins a fourth term in office ? but it won't be an easy one

By Padma Rao Sundarji, Sr Foreign Editor, WION

Many details of the life of German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been in the public domain for years. That she&nbsp;belongs to the Uckermark --&nbsp;a region in Germany&#39;s Brandenburg which was formerly the German Democratic Republic or East Germany --&nbsp;but was born in the west German harbour town Hamburg. We also know that she graduated in physics and worked as a research scientist&nbsp;before she entered politics.

Today,&nbsp;she&nbsp;is known as the most powerful woman in the world. Angela Merkel is slated to win a record fourth term and remains -- a likeable, humble personality endowed with sharp political prowess.

WION&#39;s Padma Rao Sundarji compiles some not so well-known facts and some of the Powerfrau&rsquo;s softer sides. 
&nbsp; 
The Legend of Paul and Paula, a 1973 German movie in which the heroine dies, leaving behind her lover and three children, is her favourite film.

She is partly of Polish descent --&nbsp;her maiden name was Angela Kazmierczak -- which, after the family moved to Germany, became Kasner.

She bought her first Beatles record &nbsp;in Moscow, lived in a crumbling apartment in communist East Berlin and even had a job as a barwoman in a discotheque.

Six books including one titled &ldquo;50 Shades of Angela Merkel&rdquo; have attempted - not very successfully - to unveil her fiercely guarded private life and earlier one as an East German.

Angela Merkel is a member of the Communist Youth Movement, during which she is said to have been in charge of propaganda at an academy of sciences.

Italy is a favourite holiday destination and she vacationed there recently with her grandchildren.

The &quot;Iron Chancellor&quot;&nbsp;is known to possess mean baking skills: &nbsp;her plum cake, meatloaf and potato soup are renowned for their perfection. 
 
She goes shopping for groceries herself whenever she can, even queuing up at check-out counters. 
 
&nbsp;The Chancellor is frightened of dogs since she suffered a dog-bite in the mid-Nineties. 
 
She was originally married to a fellow student of physics, Ulrich Merkel. The couple divorced in 1983. A year later, she married Joachim Sauer, a notoriously shy theoretical chemist.&nbsp;The couple have &nbsp;two sons from Mr Sauer&#39;s earlier marriage. 
 
Chancellor Merkel&#39;s characteristic steepling of her hands, known as the &quot;Merkel-Raute is seen on many pictures. It even has its own emoticon. 
&nbsp; 
It may have started as a dig by her political opponents but the term &lsquo;&rsquo;Mutti&rdquo; (mummy) is often used affectionately by Germans when they speak of their Chancellor.

WION's Padma Rao Sundarji compiles some not so well-known facts and some of the Powerfrau?s softer sides.

By Padma Rao Sundarji, Sr Foreign Editor, WION Many details of the life of German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been in the public domain for years. That she belongs to the Uckermark -- a region in Germany's Brandenburg which was formerly the German Democratic Republic or East Germany -- but was born in the west German harbour town Hamburg. We also know that she graduated in physics and worked as a research scientist before she entered politics. Today, she is known as the most powerful woman in the world. Angela Merkel is slated to win a record fourth term and remains -- a likeable, humble personality endowed with sharp political prowess. WION's Padma Rao Sundarji compiles some not so well-known facts and some of the Powerfrau’s softer sides. The Legend of Paul and Paula, a 1973 German movie in which the heroine dies, leaving behind her lover and three children, is her favourite film. She is partly of Polish descent -- her maiden name was Angela Kazmierczak -- which, after the family moved to Germany, became Kasner. She bought her first Beatles record in Moscow, lived in a crumbling apartment in communist East Berlin and even had a job as a barwoman in a discotheque. Six books including one titled “50 Shades of Angela Merkel” have attempted - not very successfully - to unveil her fiercely guarded private life and earlier one as an East German. Angela Merkel is a member of the Communist Youth Movement, during which she is said to have been in charge of propaganda at an academy of sciences. Italy is a favourite holiday destination and she vacationed there recently with her grandchildren. The "Iron Chancellor" is known to possess mean baking skills: her plum cake, meatloaf and potato soup are renowned for their perfection. She goes shopping for groceries herself whenever she can, even queuing up at check-out counters. The Chancellor is frightened of dogs since she suffered a dog-bite in the mid-Nineties. She was originally married to a fellow student of physics, Ulrich Merkel. The couple divorced in 1983. A year later, she married Joachim Sauer, a notoriously shy theoretical chemist. The couple have two sons from Mr Sauer's earlier marriage. Chancellor Merkel's characteristic steepling of her hands, known as the "Merkel-Raute is seen on many pictures. It even has its own emoticon. It may have started as a dig by her political opponents but the term ‘’Mutti” (mummy) is often used affectionately by Germans when they speak of their Chancellor.

Lesser known facts about Angela Merkel, set to return as Germany's Chancellor

Angela Merkel has been derided as Europe&#39;s &quot;austerity queen&quot;, cheered as a saviour by refugees and hailed as the new &quot;leader of the free world&quot;. 
&nbsp; 
But as the pastor&#39;s daughter raised behind the Iron Curtain heads toward a likely fourth term at the helm of Europe&#39;s biggest economy, many Germans simply call her the &quot;eternal chancellor&quot;. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Mutti&quot; (Mummy) Merkel, with her pragmatic, modest and reassuringly bland style, has perfected the art of staying in power in a wealthy, ageing nation that tends to favour continuity over change. 
&nbsp; 
In the turbulent times of Trump, Brexit and multiple global crises, the 63-year-old has become the bedrock in a country concerned with maintaining its enviable growth and employment rates. 
&nbsp; 
If there is one conviction Merkel holds dear, it is a lesson from her upbringing in communist East Germany -- a firm belief that Germany and Europe must stay competitive and debt-free in a rapidly changing global economy. 
&nbsp; 
Germans have thanked her by keeping her in power ever since she became their youngest and first female chancellor in 2005, a contemporary of long-gone leaders George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac. 
&nbsp; 
Seemingly devoid of vanity and indifferent to the trappings of power, she lives in a Berlin flat with her media-shy scientist husband Joachim Sauer, shops in a local supermarket and spends holidays hiking in the Alps. 
&nbsp; 
When international newspapers, after Trump&#39;s surprise victory last year, declared Merkel the new torch-bearer of liberal democracy, she waved off the accolade as &quot;grotesque and absurd&quot;. 
&nbsp; 
&#39;Sphinx, diva, queen&#39;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Though frequently criticised for sitting out tough challenges, Merkel has punctuated her reign with bold and surprising decisions -- from scrapping nuclear power after the 2011 Fukushima disaster to opening German borders to more than a million asylum seekers since 2015. 
&nbsp; 
The migrant influx cost her dearly, both with voters and EU neighbours, and led many to predict her demise.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
But as the number of new arrivals eased off and her government pushed through tougher asylum policies, her poll ratings have edged back up to pre-crisis levels. 
&nbsp; 
So strong is her support that German media reports tend to ridicule her centre-left challengers as luckless operators on political suicide missions, destined to be roadkill as the Merkel juggernaut powers forward. 
&nbsp; 
Merkel herself usually refuses to mention her rivals by name or engage in spirited political dialogue, lending a slightly dreamy atmosphere to recent election campaigns and infuriating her shadow-boxing opponents. 
&nbsp; 
Martin Schulz, her temperamental challenger, lashed out in June, labelling Merkel&#39;s apparent tactic of keeping politics as unexciting as possible &quot;an attack on democracy&quot; -- a comment that earned him stern rebukes from legions of the chancellor&#39;s supporters. 
&nbsp; 
But many political commentators also charge that Merkel has plunged Germany into an apolitical slumber while seeming to grow ever more remote. 
&nbsp; 
Der Spiegel&#39;s Alexander Osang recently labelled her the &quot;woman in amber&quot;, as impenetrable &quot;as a sphinx, diva or queen&quot;, whose speeches were akin to &quot;mass hypnosis&quot;. 
&nbsp; 
&#39;Merkelvellian&#39; 
&nbsp; 
Merkel was born Angela Dorothea Kasner in 1954 in the port city of Hamburg.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Weeks later her father, a leftist Lutheran clergyman, moved the family to a small town in the communist East at a time when most people were headed the other way. 
&nbsp; 
Biographers say life in a police state taught Merkel to hide her true thoughts behind a poker face. 
&nbsp; 
Like most students, she joined the state&#39;s socialist youth movement but rejected an offer to inform for the Stasi secret police while also staying clear of risky pro-democracy activism. 
&nbsp; 
A top student, she excelled in Russian, which would later help her keep up the dialogue with President Vladimir Putin, who was a KGB officer in Dresden when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. 
&nbsp; 
During that momentous upheaval, Merkel joined the nascent Democratic Awakening group, which later merged with the Christian Democrats of then-chancellor Helmut Kohl, who fondly if patronisingly dubbed Merkel his &quot;girl&quot;.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
But Merkel&#39;s mentor was not the last politician to underestimate her and pay the price.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
When Kohl became embroiled in a campaign finance scandal in 1999, Merkel openly urged her party to drop the self-declared &quot;old warhorse&quot;. 
&nbsp; 
The move, which has been described as &quot;Merkelvellian&quot;, kicked off her meteoric rise. 
&nbsp; 
As an outsider, she remade the Christian Democratic Union, anchoring it in the political centre by pushing progressive social policies, abolishing compulsory military service and scrapping nuclear power. 
&nbsp; 
She emerged as Europe&#39;s go-to leader during the sovereign debt crisis, though she was derided as a puritanical &quot;austerity queen&quot; in crisis-wracked southern countries. 
&nbsp; 
A decade on, she is still there, and her reign may yet exceed that of her one-time mentor Kohl, especially as no serious challenger from within her party has managed to emerge so far.

She has been derided as Europe's 'austerity queen', cheered as a saviour by refugees and hailed as the new 'leader of the free world'

Angela Merkel has been derided as Europe's "austerity queen", cheered as a saviour by refugees and hailed as the new "leader of the free world". But as the pastor's daughter raised behind the Iron Curtain heads toward a likely fourth term at the helm of Europe's biggest economy, many Germans simply call her the "eternal chancellor". "Mutti" (Mummy) Merkel, with her pragmatic, modest and reassuringly bland style, has perfected the art of staying in power in a wealthy, ageing nation that tends to favour continuity over change. In the turbulent times of Trump, Brexit and multiple global crises, the 63-year-old has become the bedrock in a country concerned with maintaining its enviable growth and employment rates. If there is one conviction Merkel holds dear, it is a lesson from her upbringing in communist East Germany -- a firm belief that Germany and Europe must stay competitive and debt-free in a rapidly changing global economy. Germans have thanked her by keeping her in power ever since she became their youngest and first female chancellor in 2005, a contemporary of long-gone leaders George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac. Seemingly devoid of vanity and indifferent to the trappings of power, she lives in a Berlin flat with her media-shy scientist husband Joachim Sauer, shops in a local supermarket and spends holidays hiking in the Alps. When international newspapers, after Trump's surprise victory last year, declared Merkel the new torch-bearer of liberal democracy, she waved off the accolade as "grotesque and absurd". 'Sphinx, diva, queen' Though frequently criticised for sitting out tough challenges, Merkel has punctuated her reign with bold and surprising decisions -- from scrapping nuclear power after the 2011 Fukushima disaster to opening German borders to more than a million asylum seekers since 2015. The migrant influx cost her dearly, both with voters and EU neighbours, and led many to predict her demise. But as the number of new arrivals eased off and her government pushed through tougher asylum policies, her poll ratings have edged back up to pre-crisis levels. So strong is her support that German media reports tend to ridicule her centre-left challengers as luckless operators on political suicide missions, destined to be roadkill as the Merkel juggernaut powers forward. Merkel herself usually refuses to mention her rivals by name or engage in spirited political dialogue, lending a slightly dreamy atmosphere to recent election campaigns and infuriating her shadow-boxing opponents. Martin Schulz, her temperamental challenger, lashed out in June, labelling Merkel's apparent tactic of keeping politics as unexciting as possible "an attack on democracy" -- a comment that earned him stern rebukes from legions of the chancellor's supporters. But many political commentators also charge that Merkel has plunged Germany into an apolitical slumber while seeming to grow ever more remote. Der Spiegel's Alexander Osang recently labelled her the "woman in amber", as impenetrable "as a sphinx, diva or queen", whose speeches were akin to "mass hypnosis". 'Merkelvellian' Merkel was born Angela Dorothea Kasner in 1954 in the port city of Hamburg. Weeks later her father, a leftist Lutheran clergyman, moved the family to a small town in the communist East at a time when most people were headed the other way. Biographers say life in a police state taught Merkel to hide her true thoughts behind a poker face. Like most students, she joined the state's socialist youth movement but rejected an offer to inform for the Stasi secret police while also staying clear of risky pro-democracy activism. A top student, she excelled in Russian, which would later help her keep up the dialogue with President Vladimir Putin, who was a KGB officer in Dresden when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. During that momentous upheaval, Merkel joined the nascent Democratic Awakening group, which later merged with the Christian Democrats of then-chancellor Helmut Kohl, who fondly if patronisingly dubbed Merkel his "girl". But Merkel's mentor was not the last politician to underestimate her and pay the price. When Kohl became embroiled in a campaign finance scandal in 1999, Merkel openly urged her party to drop the self-declared "old warhorse". The move, which has been described as "Merkelvellian", kicked off her meteoric rise. As an outsider, she remade the Christian Democratic Union, anchoring it in the political centre by pushing progressive social policies, abolishing compulsory military service and scrapping nuclear power. She emerged as Europe's go-to leader during the sovereign debt crisis, though she was derided as a puritanical "austerity queen" in crisis-wracked southern countries. A decade on, she is still there, and her reign may yet exceed that of her one-time mentor Kohl, especially as no serious challenger from within her party has managed to emerge so far.

Angela Merkel, Germany's 'eternal chancellor'

By&nbsp;Padma Rao Sundarji, Sr Foreign Editor, WION

Europe&rsquo;s biggest country Germany is all set for a weekend blockbuster, the big election, which the world will be watching. Germany goes to the polls every four years and will be electing its new Parliament - and in all likelihood, its existing Chancellor Angela Merkel back to the helm for a record fourth term.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Though Merkel has a commanding lead, there are other candidates vying for Berlin&#39;s top job.&nbsp;

Here&rsquo;s a look at the all those in the running&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Merkel&rsquo;s liberal-conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is represented in all states or L&auml;nder of Germany except Bavaria. &nbsp;It governs Germany together with its cousin party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) which is present only in the southern free state of Bavaria, and in a grand coalition with its big rival, the Social Democrat Party (SPD). Consequently, the CDU/CSU grouping - the Union, as it is referred to - has two candidates for chancellor - Angela Merkel of the CDU and Joachim Hermann of the CSU. 
&nbsp; 
The SPD&rsquo;s candidate for Chancellor is Martin Schulz. The 62-year-old book seller joined the Social Democrats at age 19. After triumphing over alcoholism, he put in a stint as a mayor and was later elected to the European Parliament (EP) where he first represented the SPD for eight years and then stayed on for another five as the president of the EP. Schulz speaks five European languages and is an avowed supporter of the European Union.

&nbsp;

<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="430" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/peL30NY9jXE" width="770"></iframe></center>

&nbsp;

After these giants, there&rsquo;s the Free Democratic Party (FDP), which follows a liberal ideology. Christian Lindner is the young, hip face of the party which was ignominiously shunted out of Parliament in the last election. And with a catchy new campaign and a candidate to match, the FDP is not only expected to make the &lsquo;five per cent hurdle&rsquo; - a key feature of German politics which allows candidates of a party to go to Parliament only if they receive five per cent of the votes - but may even find itself in a coalition with Merkel&rsquo;s CDU. Lindner, 38, is a graduate of political science who more than knows how to work the media: He is married to the deputy editor-in-chief of Europe&rsquo;s largest daily. 
&nbsp; 
And then there is the Green Party. In environment-conscious Germany, the party will make it into Parliament but will remain - for a lack of enterprise and new ideas - at the bottom of the heap. And like with other twin groups, there are two aspirants for the Chancellor&rsquo;s post - Katrin-G&ouml;ring Eckard, a theologist, and Cem &Ouml;zdemir, a teacher of Turkish origin who joined the greens at 16 and became a German citizen at age 18. 
&nbsp; 
A controversial debut by a party sure to enter Parliament will be that of the AFD, or Alternative f&uuml;r Deutschland. Some say the AFD is going to beat all smaller parties - even the FDP. &nbsp;A right-wing alternative for Germany, the AFD will be fielding 77-year-old lawyer Alexander Gauland and the young and outspoken Alice Weidel. It is no coincidence that both right-wingers are from eastern Germany, where distrust of foreigners - specifically Muslims - runs high and where the AFD enjoys its strongest support base. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
And finally, there&rsquo;s Die Linke or the Left. The German economy is on the upswing. Exports are booming, unemployment is down. There are other problems of course, but surveys show that socialism is not on top of German minds. Consequently the twin outfit comprising of former East and West German Leftists, are expected to make it to Parliament, but will languish at the bottom of the heap. Their candidates are former social scientist Dietmar Barsch and the erudite graduate of literature, Sahra Wagenknecht.

Watch:

<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="430" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NRna6a4XGyc" width="770"></iframe></center>

Europe?s biggest country Germany is all set for a weekend blockbuster, the big election, which the world will be watching

By Padma Rao Sundarji, Sr Foreign Editor, WION Europe’s biggest country Germany is all set for a weekend blockbuster, the big election, which the world will be watching. Germany goes to the polls every four years and will be electing its new Parliament - and in all likelihood, its existing Chancellor Angela Merkel back to the helm for a record fourth term. Though Merkel has a commanding lead, there are other candidates vying for Berlin's top job. Here’s a look at the all those in the running Merkel’s liberal-conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is represented in all states or Länder of Germany except Bavaria. It governs Germany together with its cousin party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) which is present only in the southern free state of Bavaria, and in a grand coalition with its big rival, the Social Democrat Party (SPD). Consequently, the CDU/CSU grouping - the Union, as it is referred to - has two candidates for chancellor - Angela Merkel of the CDU and Joachim Hermann of the CSU. The SPD’s candidate for Chancellor is Martin Schulz. The 62-year-old book seller joined the Social Democrats at age 19. After triumphing over alcoholism, he put in a stint as a mayor and was later elected to the European Parliament (EP) where he first represented the SPD for eight years and then stayed on for another five as the president of the EP. Schulz speaks five European languages and is an avowed supporter of the European Union. After these giants, there’s the Free Democratic Party (FDP), which follows a liberal ideology. Christian Lindner is the young, hip face of the party which was ignominiously shunted out of Parliament in the last election. And with a catchy new campaign and a candidate to match, the FDP is not only expected to make the ‘five per cent hurdle’ - a key feature of German politics which allows candidates of a party to go to Parliament only if they receive five per cent of the votes - but may even find itself in a coalition with Merkel’s CDU. Lindner, 38, is a graduate of political science who more than knows how to work the media: He is married to the deputy editor-in-chief of Europe’s largest daily. And then there is the Green Party. In environment-conscious Germany, the party will make it into Parliament but will remain - for a lack of enterprise and new ideas - at the bottom of the heap. And like with other twin groups, there are two aspirants for the Chancellor’s post - Katrin-Göring Eckard, a theologist, and Cem Özdemir, a teacher of Turkish origin who joined the greens at 16 and became a German citizen at age 18. A controversial debut by a party sure to enter Parliament will be that of the AFD, or Alternative für Deutschland. Some say the AFD is going to beat all smaller parties - even the FDP. A right-wing alternative for Germany, the AFD will be fielding 77-year-old lawyer Alexander Gauland and the young and outspoken Alice Weidel. It is no coincidence that both right-wingers are from eastern Germany, where distrust of foreigners - specifically Muslims - runs high and where the AFD enjoys its strongest support base. And finally, there’s Die Linke or the Left. The German economy is on the upswing. Exports are booming, unemployment is down. There are other problems of course, but surveys show that socialism is not on top of German minds. Consequently the twin outfit comprising of former East and West German Leftists, are expected to make it to Parliament, but will languish at the bottom of the heap. Their candidates are former social scientist Dietmar Barsch and the erudite graduate of literature, Sahra Wagenknecht. Watch:

Germany elections: Main parties, their ideologies and who is likely to win?

When Angela Merkel first became Chancellor of Germany in 2005, she was a virtual unknown. Critics were sceptical about her staying power. There were confident predictions that she wouldn&rsquo;t see out the 100-day honeymoon period traditionally enjoyed by a new incumbent. Now, 12 years on, Merkel is undoubtedly the most powerful woman in the world and a symbol of continuity both at home and abroad. Yet remarkably little is known about her, what drives her and what explains her extraordinary resilience. So who is Angela Merkel and what explains her dominance of Germany&rsquo;s millennial years?

Within her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Merkel&rsquo;s rise to political prominence was aided by two factors: she was both fiercely competent and inconspicuous. She was underestimated, even patronised, by party colleagues. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/16/helmut-kohl-ex-chancellor-and-architect-of-german-reunification-dies-aged-87">Helmut Kohl</a>, the long-serving CDU prime minister who presided over German unification, referred to her as &ldquo;the girl&rdquo; (das M&auml;dchen). He never seriously rated her as a challenge for his role.

<figure class="align-center ">
<figcaption>
When Kohl became embroiled in a <a href="http://www.dw.com/en/the-scandal-that-rocked-the-government-of-helmut-kohl/a-5137950" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">party funding scandal</a> it was Merkel who represented the new face of the CDU, free of the taint of past party sleaze. Kohl apparently <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/angela-merkel/11920552/10-moments-that-define-German-chancellor-Angela-Merkel.html" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">never forgave her</a> for usurping him.
</figcaption>
</figure>

The appeal of the ordinary

Even after three terms in office and after testing the forbearance of the German public with her open doors asylum policy, Merkel remains extraordinarily popular with the German public. Significantly, <a href="https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend-895.html">her popularity extends across all parties</a>.

Part of her enduring appeal lies in her unobtrusiveness. For a politician, she is, well, rather ordinary. Merkel has never felt the need to validate herself through a polished public image. She famously wears <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2012/oct/09/angela-merkel-jacket-pantone">the same jacket in a dizzying array of colours</a>, because it&rsquo;s easier than selecting new styles for every public appearance. Her groundedness and indifference to the trappings of the political high life have earned widespread respect.

Although entitled to live in a fine official residence at the Brandenburg Gate, she prefers to stay in a small flat she shares with her husband. When she has time, she cooks her own food. A keen football fan, the photos of her and president Joachim Gauck celebrating in the German national squad&rsquo;s dressing room after their <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/pictures/10965966/Angela-Merkels-World-Cup-German-Chancellor-joins-in-the-celebrations.html">2014 World Cup</a> win look natural and convincing.

In her understated way, Merkel conveys an image of a woman who can&rsquo;t be bought; who somehow remains outside the privileged elite. Both endearing and slightly demeaning, her nickname of &ldquo;Mutti&rdquo; (Mum) combines common responses to this eastern-born outsider and cements a sense of trustworthiness that serves her well with the voters.

Patience and pragmatism

A large part of Merkel&rsquo;s success lies in her consummate mastery of the German political system. Quite simply, she has what it takes to win in German politics. She is cautious, pragmatic, strategic, patient, and is imbued with the traditional Christian Democratic certainty that the integration of interests provides a sound basis for governance. She is an outstanding mediator. At times these attributes have infuriated supporters and critics alike, but they have worked for her.

Merkel has a keen instinct for shifts in public opinion and is swift to occupy new ground. This maddens the opposition SPD, which often complains that the union parties are &ldquo;stealing their clothes&rdquo;, making it difficult for them to develop a distinctive policy platform.

Just before the dissolution of parliament ahead of the 2017 election, Merkel engineered the passage of a <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/angela-merkel-ja-zur-ehe-fuer-alle-nicht-aus-ueberzeugung-a-1155042.html">popular bill</a> legalising gay marriage. Although it went against majority opinion within her own party, she didn&rsquo;t want the SPD or the Green Party to be able to capitalise on the issue in the election campaign.

Merkel is frequently criticised for &ldquo;de-politicising&rdquo; government. She tends to a technocratic, pragmatic approach and often sits on the fence. After three terms in office, there are concerns that this &ldquo;Merkel model&rdquo; of governance is smothering the vigorous plural exchanges that ought to characterise democratic interaction between the mainstream parties.

In particular, critics fear that Merkel&rsquo;s current grand coalition (where government power is shared between the leading party and the main party of opposition) is driving out the democratic principle of alternation of government (where there is a real potential for elections to replace one government party with another). With no mainstream opposition to the existing government, voters are drawn to cast a protest vote for radical parties, such as right-wing populists AfD. Moreover, this middle-of-the-road approach blocks reform of outdated policies.

While these are valid arguments, Merkel&rsquo;s depoliticised approach is, in fact, a logical strategy for sustained leadership in the German political system. In order to pass major domestic legislation in Germany, a government has to get a bill passed not only the parliament, in which it has a majority, but also the second legislature, the Bundesrat, where the federal government majority is not replicated. In practice, every government has to &ldquo;collude&rdquo; with opposition forces on a routine basis if it is to be successful.

The &ldquo;boring&rdquo; election campaigns so common in German politics are also a function of the system. Until the votes have been cast and the parliamentary arithmetic is known, neither the CDU/CSU nor the SPD can know for sure how it might work with the other parties in parliament to forge a majority coalition government. The election is only the beginning. Many of the details of the new chancellor&rsquo;s programme will not be settled until the rounds of coalition negotiations that take place immediately afterwards. It makes sense, then, for the two main parties to avoid specifics on their policy platforms. Keeping their powder dry, though, can make the public feel that their main concerns are not being adequately addressed.

Recently, media reports have highlighted unprecedented levels of rage and polarisation in post-war German opinion. The anti-immigrant Pegida movement and the populist <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37274201">Alternative for Germany</a> (AfD) have voiced views that only a few years ago would have been considered completely unacceptable in public discourse. This has carried over into society, where public opinion is hardening against asylum seekers.

<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/84442/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" />Some argue that this new German anger can&rsquo;t be dismissed simply as a protest vote for the AfD, but may indicate a more profound disaffection with the Merkel model. But a quick glance at the world outside and the alternative leadership at home seems to have persuaded most voters that this is not the time to throw their toys out of the pram. The Merkel decade has quietly transformed Germany into a world power while protecting the economy from the worst of the fallout from the eurozone crisis. Throughout the postwar period, German voters have shown a strong inclination for predictability: for &ldquo;the devil they know&rdquo;. Perhaps this more than anything else will secure one more term for Merkel.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" nofollow="" rel="">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-angela-merkel-model-or-how-to-succeed-in-german-politics-84442" nofollow="" rel="">original article</a>.

Angela Merkel looks set to continue her magnificent political journey

When Angela Merkel first became Chancellor of Germany in 2005, she was a virtual unknown. Critics were sceptical about her staying power. There were confident predictions that she wouldn’t see out the 100-day honeymoon period traditionally enjoyed by a new incumbent. Now, 12 years on, Merkel is undoubtedly the most powerful woman in the world and a symbol of continuity both at home and abroad. Yet remarkably little is known about her, what drives her and what explains her extraordinary resilience. So who is Angela Merkel and what explains her dominance of Germany’s millennial years? Within her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Merkel’s rise to political prominence was aided by two factors: she was both fiercely competent and inconspicuous. She was underestimated, even patronised, by party colleagues. Helmut Kohl, the long-serving CDU prime minister who presided over German unification, referred to her as “the girl” (das Mädchen). He never seriously rated her as a challenge for his role. When Kohl became embroiled in a party funding scandal it was Merkel who represented the new face of the CDU, free of the taint of past party sleaze. Kohl apparently never forgave her for usurping him. The appeal of the ordinary Even after three terms in office and after testing the forbearance of the German public with her open doors asylum policy, Merkel remains extraordinarily popular with the German public. Significantly, her popularity extends across all parties. Part of her enduring appeal lies in her unobtrusiveness. For a politician, she is, well, rather ordinary. Merkel has never felt the need to validate herself through a polished public image. She famously wears the same jacket in a dizzying array of colours, because it’s easier than selecting new styles for every public appearance. Her groundedness and indifference to the trappings of the political high life have earned widespread respect. Although entitled to live in a fine official residence at the Brandenburg Gate, she prefers to stay in a small flat she shares with her husband. When she has time, she cooks her own food. A keen football fan, the photos of her and president Joachim Gauck celebrating in the German national squad’s dressing room after their 2014 World Cup win look natural and convincing. In her understated way, Merkel conveys an image of a woman who can’t be bought; who somehow remains outside the privileged elite. Both endearing and slightly demeaning, her nickname of “Mutti” (Mum) combines common responses to this eastern-born outsider and cements a sense of trustworthiness that serves her well with the voters. Patience and pragmatism A large part of Merkel’s success lies in her consummate mastery of the German political system. Quite simply, she has what it takes to win in German politics. She is cautious, pragmatic, strategic, patient, and is imbued with the traditional Christian Democratic certainty that the integration of interests provides a sound basis for governance. She is an outstanding mediator. At times these attributes have infuriated supporters and critics alike, but they have worked for her. Merkel has a keen instinct for shifts in public opinion and is swift to occupy new ground. This maddens the opposition SPD, which often complains that the union parties are “stealing their clothes”, making it difficult for them to develop a distinctive policy platform. Just before the dissolution of parliament ahead of the 2017 election, Merkel engineered the passage of a popular bill legalising gay marriage. Although it went against majority opinion within her own party, she didn’t want the SPD or the Green Party to be able to capitalise on the issue in the election campaign. Merkel is frequently criticised for “de-politicising” government. She tends to a technocratic, pragmatic approach and often sits on the fence. After three terms in office, there are concerns that this “Merkel model” of governance is smothering the vigorous plural exchanges that ought to characterise democratic interaction between the mainstream parties. In particular, critics fear that Merkel’s current grand coalition (where government power is shared between the leading party and the main party of opposition) is driving out the democratic principle of alternation of government (where there is a real potential for elections to replace one government party with another). With no mainstream opposition to the existing government, voters are drawn to cast a protest vote for radical parties, such as right-wing populists AfD. Moreover, this middle-of-the-road approach blocks reform of outdated policies. While these are valid arguments, Merkel’s depoliticised approach is, in fact, a logical strategy for sustained leadership in the German political system. In order to pass major domestic legislation in Germany, a government has to get a bill passed not only the parliament, in which it has a majority, but also the second legislature, the Bundesrat, where the federal government majority is not replicated. In practice, every government has to “collude” with opposition forces on a routine basis if it is to be successful. The “boring” election campaigns so common in German politics are also a function of the system. Until the votes have been cast and the parliamentary arithmetic is known, neither the CDU/CSU nor the SPD can know for sure how it might work with the other parties in parliament to forge a majority coalition government. The election is only the beginning. Many of the details of the new chancellor’s programme will not be settled until the rounds of coalition negotiations that take place immediately afterwards. It makes sense, then, for the two main parties to avoid specifics on their policy platforms. Keeping their powder dry, though, can make the public feel that their main concerns are not being adequately addressed. Recently, media reports have highlighted unprecedented levels of rage and polarisation in post-war German opinion. The anti-immigrant Pegida movement and the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) have voiced views that only a few years ago would have been considered completely unacceptable in public discourse. This has carried over into society, where public opinion is hardening against asylum seekers. Some argue that this new German anger can’t be dismissed simply as a protest vote for the AfD, but may indicate a more profound disaffection with the Merkel model. But a quick glance at the world outside and the alternative leadership at home seems to have persuaded most voters that this is not the time to throw their toys out of the pram. The Merkel decade has quietly transformed Germany into a world power while protecting the economy from the worst of the fallout from the eurozone crisis. Throughout the postwar period, German voters have shown a strong inclination for predictability: for “the devil they know”. Perhaps this more than anything else will secure one more term for Merkel. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Angela Merkel model ? or how to succeed in German politics

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