Germany's pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) on Sunday voted on Sunday to back coalition agreement with the Social Democrats and the Greens. This has paved way for three-way alliance. The government formation is expected to take place next week.

The coalition forged this time is first of a kind at the federal level. Free Democrat, environmentalist Green Party and Olaf Scholz's centre-left Social Democratic Party are forming the government.

Urging his FDP to back the deal, party leader Christian Lindner said the coalition agreement would bring about a "new departure in Germany".

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"Germany is waiting for this new departure," stressed Lindner, who is poised to become finance minister.

The SPD has already approved the agreement on Saturday. The Greens are due to announce the outcome of a member survey on the deal on Monday. The three parties are hoping that Germany's lower house of the parliament, the Bundestag will vote Olaf Scholz as next chancellor of the country.

The "traffic light" alliance, named after the parties'respective colours, will usher in a new era of relations with Europe, and plans to speed up digitalisation of the continents biggest economy and put a focus on fighting climate change.

Under their roadmap for Germany, the three parties want to bring forward an end to coal to 2030 from 2038. They also plan to put 15 million electric cars on the road by 2030, and ramp up the building of new homes to keep housing costs affordable.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Germany's pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) on Sunday voted on Sunday to back coalition agreement with the Social Democrats and the Greens. This has paved way for three-way alliance.

Germany's pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) on Sunday voted on Sunday to back coalition agreement with the Social Democrats and the Greens. This has paved way for three-way alliance. The government formation is expected to take place next week. The coalition forged this time is first of a kind at the federal level. Free Democrat, environmentalist Green Party and Olaf Scholz's centre-left Social Democratic Party are forming the government. Urging his FDP to back the deal, party leader Christian Lindner said the coalition agreement would bring about a "new departure in Germany". Also Read | Omicron scare: Germany gets tough on unvaccinated, imposes restrictions "Germany is waiting for this new departure," stressed Lindner, who is poised to become finance minister. The SPD has already approved the agreement on Saturday. The Greens are due to announce the outcome of a member survey on the deal on Monday. The three parties are hoping that Germany's lower house of the parliament, the Bundestag will vote Olaf Scholz as next chancellor of the country. The "traffic light" alliance, named after the parties'respective colours, will usher in a new era of relations with Europe, and plans to speed up digitalisation of the continents biggest economy and put a focus on fighting climate change. Under their roadmap for Germany, the three parties want to bring forward an end to coal to 2030 from 2038. They also plan to put 15 million electric cars on the road by 2030, and ramp up the building of new homes to keep housing costs affordable. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany: Free Democrats back coalition agreement

A new era is about to begin in Germany. Olaf Scholz is set to become the chancellor, as Angela Merkel steps down after 16 years. Scholz entered politics at the age of 17, what does he bring to the table as Germany's new leader? Palki Sharma explains.

Gravitas: A new era in Germany: Olaf Scholz set to become chancellor

Olaf Scholz succeeded in his campaign to become the next chancellor of Germany primarily by convincing voters that he would be very much like the towering and long-serving figure he will replace: Angela Merkel.

Terse, well-briefed and abstaining from any gesture of triumph, Scholz not only sounded like the outgoing chancellor, he perfected the art of embodying her aura of stability and calm to the point of holding his hands together in her signature diamond shape.

“He’s like a soccer player who studied videos of another player and changed his game,” said Robin Alexander, a long-term political observer of both Merkel and Scholz. “From temperament and political style all the way down to facial expression, Scholz now channels Merkel. If Scholz was a woman, he would wear pantsuits.”

As Scholz unveiled his new government Wednesday and prepares to take office next month, one question for Germany and for the whole of Europe and the world is, can he deliver and fill Merkel’s very big shoes?

Rarely has a German leader come into office with so many burning crises.

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As soon as he is sworn in as chancellor in early December, Scholz will have to deal with a surging pandemic, tensions at the Polish-Belarussian border, a Russian president mobilizing troops on Ukraine’s eastern border, a more confrontational China and a less dependable United States.

“The pressure is huge,” said Jana Puglierin of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “The new government is taking office in a situation that has been heating up on multiple fronts. And when it comes to foreign policy, Olaf Scholz remains a bit of an enigma.”

Indeed, which Scholz will show up as chancellor in two weeks is a matter of intense speculation. A lifelong Social Democrat, Scholz, 63, has been a familiar face in German politics for more than two decades and served in two of Merkel’s governments, most recently as her finance minister.

But he has also been something of a political chameleon, a pragmatic politician who straddles left and right so easily it is sometimes hard to know where he stands.

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Born in Osnabrück, northern Germany, Scholz grew up in Hamburg, the city he would later run as mayor. His grandfather was a railway man; his parents worked in textiles. He and his brothers were the first in his family to go to university.

He was still in high school when he joined the Social Democrats. A fiery young Socialist, he spent a decade as a labor lawyer defending workers threatened by factory closures. Then, as secretary-general of his party under the last center-left administration of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, he defended painful labor market reforms with a machinelike efficiency that earned him the nickname “Scholzo-mat.”

When he was first elected into Parliament, he sat with the left wing of his party. Today he is considered to be to the right of much of its base — not unlike President Joe Biden in the United States, with whom he is sometimes compared.

But like with Biden, some see some leftist reflexes.

Scholz lost his party’s leadership contest to a pair of leftists two years ago but surprised and impressed some of his fiercest critics in his own party when he pulled out a “bazooka” of hundreds of billions of euros in state aid to help struggling workers and businesses during the pandemic.

Some hope that this — and his election campaign theme centered on respect for the working classes — was proof that the youthful idealist who mellowed into a post-ideological centrist might be turning more radical again in his 60s.

“The bazooka was a big moment,” said Kevin Kühnert, an outspoken left-winger and one of the Social Democrats’ deputy leaders. “It was the belated peace with his party. And it was the beginning of a deeper social transformation he’s hoping for.”

Scholz, who reportedly lost 12 kilograms, about 26 pounds, and stopped drinking alcohol before the election, has long been underestimated. He has always played a long game. His ambition to become chancellor dates back to 2011, according to a close ally.

Even political opponents speak admiringly of his political instinct, his stamina and quiet self-belief. Three years ago, when his party’s approval ratings were hovering near record lows, he told The New York Times that the Social Democrats would win the next election.

Like Merkel, he has a reputation for being a safe pair of hands and a decent person with a bipartisan aura.

“Merkel is beyond party politics; she is the voice of reason,” said Alexander, who wrote a bestselling book on the end of the Merkel era. “Being the center of politics as a person, that’s what Merkel did so masterfully, and that’s what Scholz is aiming for.”

That political flexibility may now make him the perfect leader to tackle what may be his abiding challenge as chancellor — keeping the peace in an unusual and untested three-way coalition with two ideologically divergent parties: the progressive Greens, who want to spend 50 billion euros, or about $56 billion, on a green transition; and the pro-market Free Democrats, who will control the finance ministry and with it the purse strings.

But it also runs the risk of satisfying no one. Just how absorbed Scholz gets in having to balance conflicting demands at home, observers say, could affect his ability to push through his government’s ambitious agenda to prepare Germany for a carbon-neutral future and a digital age.

It will also determine how large a role Germany can play abroad. If Scholz gets too distracted by internal tensions, Europe and the world are bound to feel the loss of Merkel’s leadership, analysts predict.

But if it goes smoothly, Scholz’ Germany could turn out to be a pivotal power for European cohesion, for more trans-Atlantic unity on fighting climate change and for confronting strategic competitors like China and Russia — and, some hope, for a revival of social democracy in different parts of the world.

Foreign policy was barely discussed in the election campaign, but along with the pandemic, it might well end up dominating the first months of the new administration. Germany is taking over the presidency of the Group of 7 in January, and Scholz will immediately have the spotlight on him on a host of pressing international questions.

He has a seeming center-left ally in Biden. Not since the second term of former President Bill Clinton have both the White House and the German chancellery been in the hands of center-left leaders.

But no one in Berlin is relying too much on Washington.

“We don’t know how dependable the Biden administration is, and we don’t know how long it will be in power,” said Puglierin of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

One of Scholz’ advisers put it more bluntly: “Biden is America First, just more polite.”

Scholz will focus his energy on strengthening the European Union, his advisers say. His first foreign visit will be to President Emmanuel Macron in France, who faces his own difficult election campaign next year. Supporting Macron, who is taking over the European Union’s rotating presidency in January, is one goal.

“We will talk a lot more about European sovereignty. We will sound more French. But in reality it will be hard to turn that into real policy,” Puglierin said.

Few analysts expect the new chancellor to change course significantly from Merkel, who took him along to her last Group of 20 meeting last month and introduced him to a number of world leaders, including Biden.

“Don’t expect too much change,” Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesperson of the Social Democrats, said last weekend.

To those of Germany’s allies who are hoping for a much more robust stance on China and Russia and an increase in military spending, that promise of continuity may be only partly reassuring.

But with so many fires burning on the international stage and some structural geopolitical shifts underway, circumstances — and his more hawkish coalition partners — might force the new chancellor’s hand, said Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff of the German Marshall Fund.

One of the first tests Scholz will face is how to deal with Poland, which has violated some of the democratic principles of EU membership but is also under pressure from neighboring Belarus, a Russian ally that has been funneling migrants to the Polish border in an apparent attempt to destabilize the bloc.

Scholz’ Social Democrats are traditionally dovish on Russia, supporting projects like the divisive Nordstream II gas pipeline. But if Moscow launches another offensive in Ukraine, it would be another significant test.

On China, the picture is more complicated.

The Social Democrats have signaled that Scholz would not turn hawkish overnight and close ranks with the United States.

“If you look at Merkel’s China policy, I think that Olaf Scholz will be more similar to this than U.S. policy toward China,” Lars Klingbeil, secretary-general of the Social Democrats and a close ally of Scholz, said last month.

But as Beijing has become more confrontational and German industry more outspoken about its dependency on the Chinese market, Germany’s China policy is ripe for evolving from the mercantilist soft touch of the Merkel era, analysts say.

“Scholz has clout, and he will gain further clout in office,” said Holger Schmieding, chief economist of Berenberg Bank. “He has the potential to be a strong leader with international standing — as long as he keeps his coalition together.”

Olaf Scholz succeeded in his campaign to become the next chancellor of Germany primarily by convincing voters that he would be very much like the towering and long-serving figure he will replace: Angela Merkel.

Olaf Scholz succeeded in his campaign to become the next chancellor of Germany primarily by convincing voters that he would be very much like the towering and long-serving figure he will replace: Angela Merkel. Terse, well-briefed and abstaining from any gesture of triumph, Scholz not only sounded like the outgoing chancellor, he perfected the art of embodying her aura of stability and calm to the point of holding his hands together in her signature diamond shape. “He’s like a soccer player who studied videos of another player and changed his game,” said Robin Alexander, a long-term political observer of both Merkel and Scholz. “From temperament and political style all the way down to facial expression, Scholz now channels Merkel. If Scholz was a woman, he would wear pantsuits.” As Scholz unveiled his new government Wednesday and prepares to take office next month, one question for Germany and for the whole of Europe and the world is, can he deliver and fill Merkel’s very big shoes? Rarely has a German leader come into office with so many burning crises. ALSO READ | Protesters burn down parliament building, police station in Solomon Islands As soon as he is sworn in as chancellor in early December, Scholz will have to deal with a surging pandemic, tensions at the Polish-Belarussian border, a Russian president mobilizing troops on Ukraine’s eastern border, a more confrontational China and a less dependable United States. “The pressure is huge,” said Jana Puglierin of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “The new government is taking office in a situation that has been heating up on multiple fronts. And when it comes to foreign policy, Olaf Scholz remains a bit of an enigma.” Indeed, which Scholz will show up as chancellor in two weeks is a matter of intense speculation. A lifelong Social Democrat, Scholz, 63, has been a familiar face in German politics for more than two decades and served in two of Merkel’s governments, most recently as her finance minister. But he has also been something of a political chameleon, a pragmatic politician who straddles left and right so easily it is sometimes hard to know where he stands. ALSO READ | Taiwan leader meets Solomons envoy to shore up ties over China Born in Osnabrück, northern Germany, Scholz grew up in Hamburg, the city he would later run as mayor. His grandfather was a railway man; his parents worked in textiles. He and his brothers were the first in his family to go to university. He was still in high school when he joined the Social Democrats. A fiery young Socialist, he spent a decade as a labor lawyer defending workers threatened by factory closures. Then, as secretary-general of his party under the last center-left administration of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, he defended painful labor market reforms with a machinelike efficiency that earned him the nickname “Scholzo-mat.” When he was first elected into Parliament, he sat with the left wing of his party. Today he is considered to be to the right of much of its base — not unlike President Joe Biden in the United States, with whom he is sometimes compared. But like with Biden, some see some leftist reflexes. Scholz lost his party’s leadership contest to a pair of leftists two years ago but surprised and impressed some of his fiercest critics in his own party when he pulled out a “bazooka” of hundreds of billions of euros in state aid to help struggling workers and businesses during the pandemic. Some hope that this — and his election campaign theme centered on respect for the working classes — was proof that the youthful idealist who mellowed into a post-ideological centrist might be turning more radical again in his 60s. “The bazooka was a big moment,” said Kevin Kühnert, an outspoken left-winger and one of the Social Democrats’ deputy leaders. “It was the belated peace with his party. And it was the beginning of a deeper social transformation he’s hoping for.” Scholz, who reportedly lost 12 kilograms, about 26 pounds, and stopped drinking alcohol before the election, has long been underestimated. He has always played a long game. His ambition to become chancellor dates back to 2011, according to a close ally. Even political opponents speak admiringly of his political instinct, his stamina and quiet self-belief. Three years ago, when his party’s approval ratings were hovering near record lows, he told The New York Times that the Social Democrats would win the next election. Like Merkel, he has a reputation for being a safe pair of hands and a decent person with a bipartisan aura. “Merkel is beyond party politics; she is the voice of reason,” said Alexander, who wrote a bestselling book on the end of the Merkel era. “Being the center of politics as a person, that’s what Merkel did so masterfully, and that’s what Scholz is aiming for.” That political flexibility may now make him the perfect leader to tackle what may be his abiding challenge as chancellor — keeping the peace in an unusual and untested three-way coalition with two ideologically divergent parties: the progressive Greens, who want to spend 50 billion euros, or about $56 billion, on a green transition; and the pro-market Free Democrats, who will control the finance ministry and with it the purse strings. But it also runs the risk of satisfying no one. Just how absorbed Scholz gets in having to balance conflicting demands at home, observers say, could affect his ability to push through his government’s ambitious agenda to prepare Germany for a carbon-neutral future and a digital age. It will also determine how large a role Germany can play abroad. If Scholz gets too distracted by internal tensions, Europe and the world are bound to feel the loss of Merkel’s leadership, analysts predict. But if it goes smoothly, Scholz’ Germany could turn out to be a pivotal power for European cohesion, for more trans-Atlantic unity on fighting climate change and for confronting strategic competitors like China and Russia — and, some hope, for a revival of social democracy in different parts of the world. Foreign policy was barely discussed in the election campaign, but along with the pandemic, it might well end up dominating the first months of the new administration. Germany is taking over the presidency of the Group of 7 in January, and Scholz will immediately have the spotlight on him on a host of pressing international questions. He has a seeming center-left ally in Biden. Not since the second term of former President Bill Clinton have both the White House and the German chancellery been in the hands of center-left leaders. But no one in Berlin is relying too much on Washington. “We don’t know how dependable the Biden administration is, and we don’t know how long it will be in power,” said Puglierin of the European Council on Foreign Relations. One of Scholz’ advisers put it more bluntly: “Biden is America First, just more polite.” Scholz will focus his energy on strengthening the European Union, his advisers say. His first foreign visit will be to President Emmanuel Macron in France, who faces his own difficult election campaign next year. Supporting Macron, who is taking over the European Union’s rotating presidency in January, is one goal. “We will talk a lot more about European sovereignty. We will sound more French. But in reality it will be hard to turn that into real policy,” Puglierin said. Few analysts expect the new chancellor to change course significantly from Merkel, who took him along to her last Group of 20 meeting last month and introduced him to a number of world leaders, including Biden. “Don’t expect too much change,” Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesperson of the Social Democrats, said last weekend. To those of Germany’s allies who are hoping for a much more robust stance on China and Russia and an increase in military spending, that promise of continuity may be only partly reassuring. But with so many fires burning on the international stage and some structural geopolitical shifts underway, circumstances — and his more hawkish coalition partners — might force the new chancellor’s hand, said Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff of the German Marshall Fund. One of the first tests Scholz will face is how to deal with Poland, which has violated some of the democratic principles of EU membership but is also under pressure from neighboring Belarus, a Russian ally that has been funneling migrants to the Polish border in an apparent attempt to destabilize the bloc. Scholz’ Social Democrats are traditionally dovish on Russia, supporting projects like the divisive Nordstream II gas pipeline. But if Moscow launches another offensive in Ukraine, it would be another significant test. On China, the picture is more complicated. The Social Democrats have signaled that Scholz would not turn hawkish overnight and close ranks with the United States. “If you look at Merkel’s China policy, I think that Olaf Scholz will be more similar to this than U.S. policy toward China,” Lars Klingbeil, secretary-general of the Social Democrats and a close ally of Scholz, said last month. But as Beijing has become more confrontational and German industry more outspoken about its dependency on the Chinese market, Germany’s China policy is ripe for evolving from the mercantilist soft touch of the Merkel era, analysts say. “Scholz has clout, and he will gain further clout in office,” said Holger Schmieding, chief economist of Berenberg Bank. “He has the potential to be a strong leader with international standing — as long as he keeps his coalition together.”

He convinced voters he would be like Merkel. But who is Olaf Scholz?

Olaf Scholz, leader of Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) moved a step closer to succeed Angela Merkel as the next chancellor of Germany. On Friday, he announced that he and the leaders of two smaller parties aimed to move into formal coalition talks.

SPD, the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) said that exploratory talks into government formation had been constructive and this allowed them to establish a roadmap for more formal negotiations.

Party committees are expected to vote over the weekend on whether to do so, bringing them closer to forming a "traffic light" alliance after their respective red, yellow and green colours - the first of its kind at federal level.

The Greens and FDP have kept open the option of turning to the conservatives, who have been in office for the last 16 years, should talks with the SPD stumble. The conservatives criticised the road map as contradictory and short on detail.

But polls show most voters back a traffic light alliance and even senior conservatives have given up on leading the next government.

"A new start is possible with the three parties coming together," Scholz told a news conference.

"If parties that are so different could agree on joint challenges and solutions, then that would be an opportunity to unite our country," said FDP leader Christian Lindner.

It offered "a chance that a possible coalition could be greater than the sum of its parts," he added.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Olaf Scholz, leader of Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) moved a step closer to succeed Angela Merkel as the next chancellor of Germany. On Friday, he announced that he and the leaders of two smaller parties aimed to move into formal coalition talks.

Olaf Scholz, leader of Germany's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) moved a step closer to succeed Angela Merkel as the next chancellor of Germany. On Friday, he announced that he and the leaders of two smaller parties aimed to move into formal coalition talks. SPD, the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) said that exploratory talks into government formation had been constructive and this allowed them to establish a roadmap for more formal negotiations. Party committees are expected to vote over the weekend on whether to do so, bringing them closer to forming a "traffic light" alliance after their respective red, yellow and green colours - the first of its kind at federal level. The Greens and FDP have kept open the option of turning to the conservatives, who have been in office for the last 16 years, should talks with the SPD stumble. The conservatives criticised the road map as contradictory and short on detail. But polls show most voters back a traffic light alliance and even senior conservatives have given up on leading the next government. "A new start is possible with the three parties coming together," Scholz told a news conference. "If parties that are so different could agree on joint challenges and solutions, then that would be an opportunity to unite our country," said FDP leader Christian Lindner. It offered "a chance that a possible coalition could be greater than the sum of its parts," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany: Olaf Scholz inches closer to succeed Merkel as chancellor

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD, as per German name) registered a narrow victory in German federal elections 2021. SPD's Olaf Scholz's image has got a big boost as compared to Armin Laschet who was favoured face of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel's CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/ Christian Social Union) alliance could not repeat its performance in 2017 elections and lost ground to other parties.

Here is the vote share of main parties as per preliminary official results

SPD (Centre-left): 25.7 per cent 
CDU/CSU (Centre-right): 24.1 per cent 
Green Party (Pro-environment): 14.8 per cent 
Free Democratic Party (FDP) (Pro-business): 11.5 per cent 
Alternative for Germany (AfD) (Far right): 10.3 per cent

Final official results will be published in a few weeks.

The Green Party registered their best performance yet. Though its candidate for chancellery Annalena Baerbock may not become chancellor, the party may prove to be a kingmaker. Green Party's performance shows that voters were concerned about environmental issues like Climate Change.

Since the difference of votes between SPD and CDU/CSU is not too large, it can be said at present that both parties have a chance to form a government but with help from smaller parties. Neither of these parties has a majority on their own.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-spd-secretary-general-says-we-have-mandate-to-govern-416203">German SPD secretary-general says, 'we have mandate to govern'</a>

Neither the SPD nor the CDU-CSU want a repeat of the left-right "grand coalition" that has featured in three of Merkel's four governments.&nbsp;

Both, CDU and SPD have claimed that they have got a mandate to form government and lead the coalition as senior partner.

<img alt="Armin Laschet" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4c574601-bd7a-482f-8e24-398bf707605b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Laschet.JPG" />

(Armin Laschet, CDU/CSU candidate for the post of chancellor)

Although parties are now trying to stitch up a coalition, all of them have refused to include far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) among them.

Polls over, what next?

German chancellor is elected by members of parliament from themselves. However, election for chancellor will not take place right away. Ruling coalition must be formed first. The negotiations could take weeks.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-federal-elections-2021-what-you-need-to-know-about-race-for-chancellor-416151">German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race for chancellor</a>

This time, it seems very likely that a three-party coalition will form the government. If it happens, it will be departure from post-Second World War tradition of two-party coalition governments.

When the ruling coalition is formed, the partners will draft coalition agreement. It is in this agreement that the coalition partners will name new chancellor who will then be elected by vote in the parliament.

Decrease in CDU/CSU vote share

CDU/CSU bloc's vote share fell below 30 per cent for the first time in seven decades. Though Angela Merkel remains Germany's most popular politician, it remains to be seen whether her relative absence from campaigning had any effect on decrease in vote share.

She had supported Armin Lachet to be Germany's next chancellor. Laschet even had high approval ratings months before election. But series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These include getting caught on camera laughing in a ceremony to honour those who lost lives in Germany's recent floods.

In contrast, Olaf Scholz ran an error-free campaign that saw his approval ratings rise than what they were at the start of the race.

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD, as per German name) registered a narrow victory in German federal elections 2021. SPD's Olaf Scholz's image has got a big boost as compared to Armin Laschet who was favoured face of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD, as per German name) registered a narrow victory in German federal elections 2021. SPD's Olaf Scholz's image has got a big boost as compared to Armin Laschet who was favoured face of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel's CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Union/ Christian Social Union) alliance could not repeat its performance in 2017 elections and lost ground to other parties. Here is the vote share of main parties as per preliminary official results SPD (Centre-left): 25.7 per cent CDU/CSU (Centre-right): 24.1 per cent Green Party (Pro-environment): 14.8 per cent Free Democratic Party (FDP) (Pro-business): 11.5 per cent Alternative for Germany (AfD) (Far right): 10.3 per cent Final official results will be published in a few weeks. The Green Party registered their best performance yet. Though its candidate for chancellery Annalena Baerbock may not become chancellor, the party may prove to be a kingmaker. Green Party's performance shows that voters were concerned about environmental issues like Climate Change. Since the difference of votes between SPD and CDU/CSU is not too large, it can be said at present that both parties have a chance to form a government but with help from smaller parties. Neither of these parties has a majority on their own. Also Read | German SPD secretary-general says, 'we have mandate to govern' Neither the SPD nor the CDU-CSU want a repeat of the left-right "grand coalition" that has featured in three of Merkel's four governments. Both, CDU and SPD have claimed that they have got a mandate to form government and lead the coalition as senior partner. (Armin Laschet, CDU/CSU candidate for the post of chancellor) Although parties are now trying to stitch up a coalition, all of them have refused to include far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) among them. Polls over, what next? German chancellor is elected by members of parliament from themselves. However, election for chancellor will not take place right away. Ruling coalition must be formed first. The negotiations could take weeks. Also Read | German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race for chancellor This time, it seems very likely that a three-party coalition will form the government. If it happens, it will be departure from post-Second World War tradition of two-party coalition governments. When the ruling coalition is formed, the partners will draft coalition agreement. It is in this agreement that the coalition partners will name new chancellor who will then be elected by vote in the parliament. Decrease in CDU/CSU vote share CDU/CSU bloc's vote share fell below 30 per cent for the first time in seven decades. Though Angela Merkel remains Germany's most popular politician, it remains to be seen whether her relative absence from campaigning had any effect on decrease in vote share. She had supported Armin Lachet to be Germany's next chancellor. Laschet even had high approval ratings months before election. But series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These include getting caught on camera laughing in a ceremony to honour those who lost lives in Germany's recent floods. In contrast, Olaf Scholz ran an error-free campaign that saw his approval ratings rise than what they were at the start of the race.

Not over till it's over: Gruelling coalition talks await post-Merkel Germany after polls

As Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down from the political stage and Germans vote in&nbsp;federal (Bundestag) elections,&nbsp;all bets appear to be off as to who will be the next chancellor.

The contest, which once seemed clear, now appears to be close. So much so that Merkel, who had initially preferred to stay away from the campaign fray, had to enter the field to shore up ratings for her would-be successor Armin Laschet. This time the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats.

Here's a look at who is in the race to be next chancellor of Germany

Armin Laschet (Party: CDU/CSU)

<img alt="Armin Laschet" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a4f5d0b-89d5-490b-9a35-0eb1a79740ac" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9NJ9TE.jpg" />

Armin Laschet (60) enjoys support from Angela Merkel to be the next chancellor of Germany. He is Merkel's party colleague within Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU). He is Minister-President of Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region.

Laschet's&nbsp;approval ratings were high in months leading to German election but series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These included getting caught on camera laughing in the background during a tribute to the victims of the recent devastating floods in Germany.

Merkel herself had to enter the campaign fray to shore-up support for her favoured candidate.

Olaf Scholz (Party: SPD)

<img alt="Olaf Scholz" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fd63303f-3f84-454c-95c8-1763f61ccb60" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9NG2X2.jpg" />

Olaf Scholz (63) is the current vice-chacellor and finance minister of Germany. He belongs to Social Democratic Party (German: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands or SPD).

His approval ratings were low at the start of the race but rose as he avoided making embarrassing mistakes like Laschet.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/farewell-angela-merkel-you-were-once-the-leader-of-the-free-world-415832">Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World</a>

 
Annalena Baerbock (Green Party)

<img alt="Annalena Baerbock" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c16dedbc-e3be-497b-bafd-8ab648a10fe0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9NG3D2.jpg" />

Annalena Baerbock is the chancellor candidate from Green Party. At one point, Baerbock even took lead as the most favourite candidate in opinion polls.

But after a series of missteps by Baerbock, including a plagiarism scandal, the Greens are now polling well behind the two leading parties on around 17 per cent.

While the chancellery may be out of reach for the party, it will likely have a role in Germany's next government.

How do German elections work?

<img alt="German elections" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4d4091d1-0dc3-4ed9-93c3-769c060c4f55" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9NK273.jpg" />

Voters do not directly elect the chancellor. Elected members of the parliament decide who the chancellor will be from among them.

Each German voter has two votes. First vote decides who will represent a region in the parliament. Second vote elects the party and decides the makeup of the parliament. The party with the most votes gets to send more number of candidates to the parliament.

For example, if a party scores three direct seats through the first vote but is eligible for 10 seats overall through the second vote, seven more names on the party's candidate list (published before the elections)&nbsp;are also given seats. The candidate list published before the elections has candidates for each of the 16 states. Those higher on the list have better chance of securing a parliament seat.

A complication arises when the direct and party votes are out of balance because voters "split" their ballot. This happens when a voter votes for a candidate from a particular party but prefers a different party in his or her second vote.

This time, the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats as more voters are expected to split their votes.

This year, there are 47 political parties taking part in the elections.

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Opinion polls show the race for the chancellery is headed for a photo finish, with Merkel's CDU-CSU conservative alliance on around 23 per cent, just behind the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 25 per cent -- well within the margin of error.

Who can vote?

Individuals above 18 years of age, having German citizenship and having lived in the country for an uninterrupted period of at least three months are eligible to vote. Mail-in vote is allowed for Germans living abroad.&nbsp;

People who hold German passports but haven't lived in Germany for more than 25 years cannot vote.

As per German government's statistics, 60.4 million Germans are eligible to vote this time. There are 2.8 million first time voters. These are the voters who do not remember any chancellor other than Angela Merkel.

Voter participation four years ago stood at 76.2 percent, up nearly five points from 2013 and higher than in many other Western democracies.

This year, 33 per cent of the candidates for the Bundestag, which ultimately elects the chancellor, are female -- a post-war record.

When will the result be known?

After voting concludes at 1600 GMT (9:30 pm IST) on September 26, counting of votes will begin. The counting will continue well into the night.

Provisional results are expected on the morning of September 27. But official results won't be published until several weeks later.&nbsp;

How did things stand after 2017 elections?

Here is where things stood after the 2017 election:

Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union (CSU): 32.9 percent - 246 seats

Social Democratic Party (SPD): 20.5 percent - 153 seats

Alternative for Germany (AfD): 12.6 percent - 94 seats

Free Democrats (FDP): 10.7 percent - 80 seats

Die Linke: 9.2 percent - 69 seats

Greens: 8.9 percent - 67 seats

(With inputs from agencies)

As Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down from the political stage and Germans vote in federal (Bundestag) elections, all bets appear to be off as to who will be the next chancellor.

As Chancellor Angela Merkel prepares to step down from the political stage and Germans vote in federal (Bundestag) elections, all bets appear to be off as to who will be the next chancellor. The contest, which once seemed clear, now appears to be close. So much so that Merkel, who had initially preferred to stay away from the campaign fray, had to enter the field to shore up ratings for her would-be successor Armin Laschet. This time the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats. Here's a look at who is in the race to be next chancellor of Germany Armin Laschet (Party: CDU/CSU) Armin Laschet (60) enjoys support from Angela Merkel to be the next chancellor of Germany. He is Merkel's party colleague within Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU). He is Minister-President of Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region. Laschet's approval ratings were high in months leading to German election but series of blunders saw his popularity wane. These included getting caught on camera laughing in the background during a tribute to the victims of the recent devastating floods in Germany. Merkel herself had to enter the campaign fray to shore-up support for her favoured candidate. Olaf Scholz (Party: SPD) Olaf Scholz (63) is the current vice-chacellor and finance minister of Germany. He belongs to Social Democratic Party (German: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands or SPD). His approval ratings were low at the start of the race but rose as he avoided making embarrassing mistakes like Laschet. Also Read | Farewell, Angela Merkel. You were once the ‘Leader of the Free World Annalena Baerbock (Green Party) Annalena Baerbock is the chancellor candidate from Green Party. At one point, Baerbock even took lead as the most favourite candidate in opinion polls. But after a series of missteps by Baerbock, including a plagiarism scandal, the Greens are now polling well behind the two leading parties on around 17 per cent. While the chancellery may be out of reach for the party, it will likely have a role in Germany's next government. How do German elections work? Voters do not directly elect the chancellor. Elected members of the parliament decide who the chancellor will be from among them. Each German voter has two votes. First vote decides who will represent a region in the parliament. Second vote elects the party and decides the makeup of the parliament. The party with the most votes gets to send more number of candidates to the parliament. For example, if a party scores three direct seats through the first vote but is eligible for 10 seats overall through the second vote, seven more names on the party's candidate list (published before the elections) are also given seats. The candidate list published before the elections has candidates for each of the 16 states. Those higher on the list have better chance of securing a parliament seat. A complication arises when the direct and party votes are out of balance because voters "split" their ballot. This happens when a voter votes for a candidate from a particular party but prefers a different party in his or her second vote. This time, the Bundestag is expected to expand more than its minimum size of 598 seats as more voters are expected to split their votes. This year, there are 47 political parties taking part in the elections. × Opinion polls show the race for the chancellery is headed for a photo finish, with Merkel's CDU-CSU conservative alliance on around 23 per cent, just behind the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 25 per cent -- well within the margin of error. Who can vote? Individuals above 18 years of age, having German citizenship and having lived in the country for an uninterrupted period of at least three months are eligible to vote. Mail-in vote is allowed for Germans living abroad. People who hold German passports but haven't lived in Germany for more than 25 years cannot vote. As per German government's statistics, 60.4 million Germans are eligible to vote this time. There are 2.8 million first time voters. These are the voters who do not remember any chancellor other than Angela Merkel. Voter participation four years ago stood at 76.2 percent, up nearly five points from 2013 and higher than in many other Western democracies. This year, 33 per cent of the candidates for the Bundestag, which ultimately elects the chancellor, are female -- a post-war record. When will the result be known? After voting concludes at 1600 GMT (9:30 pm IST) on September 26, counting of votes will begin. The counting will continue well into the night. Provisional results are expected on the morning of September 27. But official results won't be published until several weeks later. How did things stand after 2017 elections? Here is where things stood after the 2017 election: Christian Democratic Union (CDU) / Christian Social Union (CSU): 32.9 percent - 246 seats Social Democratic Party (SPD): 20.5 percent - 153 seats Alternative for Germany (AfD): 12.6 percent - 94 seats Free Democrats (FDP): 10.7 percent - 80 seats Die Linke: 9.2 percent - 69 seats Greens: 8.9 percent - 67 seats (With inputs from agencies)

German federal elections 2021: What you need to know about race for chancellor

The candidates to become Germany’s next chancellor had faced off in a TV debate. Armin Laschet, the candidate from Angela Merkel's party CDU tried to turn his fortunes around by attacking finance minister Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) over his track record on tackling money laundering and corruption.

German election candidates face off in first TV debate

German Chancellor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/on-wall-anniversary-merkel-urges-europe-to-defend-democracy-freedom-261009">Angela Merkel's</a> conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday broke a deadlock over a higher basic pension for low-income workers, an impasse which had threatened the future of their governing coalition.

Senior coalition members, including Merkel and SPD Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, sealed the compromise deal during talks in the chancellery that lasted more than six hours.

The package also includes lower contributions to the public unemployment insurance scheme and the creation of an investment fund to support local high-tech start-ups.

"Germany will get a (higher) basic pension and this is a socio-political milestone," said SPD interim leader Malu Dreyer, whose party had been pushing for a better deal for lower-income workers.

The coalition between Merkel's CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD has struggled to stay afloat for much of the time since it was formed in March 2018 to end months of political limbo following an inconclusive national election.

The conservatives had agreed to an SPD proposal to introduce a higher basic pension for low-income workers who had been employed for at least 35 years. But some details were left open and talks on finalising terms had stalled for months.

The impasse led some SPD members, worried by the party's falling ratings, to threaten to quit the coalition.

If the partners had failed to reach a deal, SPD members might have decided to vote against staying in the coalition at a party congress on December&nbsp;6-8.

Dreyer estimated that up to 1.5 million people would benefit from the deal through increased pension entitlements.

"Especially women will benefit from this... so this is also a strong signal when it comes to feminist policies," she added.

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, chairwoman of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the agreement would reduce the risk of old-age poverty while the decision to lower contributions to the public unemployment insurance scheme was meant to give the slowing economy a fiscal stimulus.

The planned investment fund will be worth up to 10 billion euros to support cutting-edge technologies in areas such as digitisation and climate protection, Kramp-Karrenbauer added. It will be run by the state-owned KfW bank.

Markus Soeder, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian allies of the CDU, said the coalition parties had shown with their compromise deal that they were able to deliver.

He estimated that the increased basic pension would involve additional costs of up to 1.5 billion euros ($1.65 billion).

The package is likely to be welcomed internationally after the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund have urged Germany for years to use its hefty budget surpluses to stimulate domestic demand through higher wages and pensions.

The German economy shrank by 0.1 per cent&nbsp;in the second quarter on weak exports, and data due on Thursday is expected to show another contraction in the third quarter. This would mean that Europe's largest economy had entered a technical recession.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday broke a deadlock over a higher basic pension for low-income workers, an impasse which had threatened the future of their governing coalition.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday broke a deadlock over a higher basic pension for low-income workers, an impasse which had threatened the future of their governing coalition. Senior coalition members, including Merkel and SPD Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, sealed the compromise deal during talks in the chancellery that lasted more than six hours. The package also includes lower contributions to the public unemployment insurance scheme and the creation of an investment fund to support local high-tech start-ups. "Germany will get a (higher) basic pension and this is a socio-political milestone," said SPD interim leader Malu Dreyer, whose party had been pushing for a better deal for lower-income workers. The coalition between Merkel's CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD has struggled to stay afloat for much of the time since it was formed in March 2018 to end months of political limbo following an inconclusive national election. The conservatives had agreed to an SPD proposal to introduce a higher basic pension for low-income workers who had been employed for at least 35 years. But some details were left open and talks on finalising terms had stalled for months. The impasse led some SPD members, worried by the party's falling ratings, to threaten to quit the coalition. If the partners had failed to reach a deal, SPD members might have decided to vote against staying in the coalition at a party congress on December 6-8. Dreyer estimated that up to 1.5 million people would benefit from the deal through increased pension entitlements. "Especially women will benefit from this... so this is also a strong signal when it comes to feminist policies," she added. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, chairwoman of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said the agreement would reduce the risk of old-age poverty while the decision to lower contributions to the public unemployment insurance scheme was meant to give the slowing economy a fiscal stimulus. The planned investment fund will be worth up to 10 billion euros to support cutting-edge technologies in areas such as digitisation and climate protection, Kramp-Karrenbauer added. It will be run by the state-owned KfW bank. Markus Soeder, leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Bavarian allies of the CDU, said the coalition parties had shown with their compromise deal that they were able to deliver. He estimated that the increased basic pension would involve additional costs of up to 1.5 billion euros ($1.65 billion). The package is likely to be welcomed internationally after the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund have urged Germany for years to use its hefty budget surpluses to stimulate domestic demand through higher wages and pensions. The German economy shrank by 0.1 per cent in the second quarter on weak exports, and data due on Thursday is expected to show another contraction in the third quarter. This would mean that Europe's largest economy had entered a technical recession.

Merkel's conservatives, SPD avert crisis with German pension deal

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merkel-calls-for-europe-to-stand-up-against-far-right-parties-219720">German Chancellor Angela Merkel's</a> embattled coalition will hold crisis talks Monday after a thumping at European polls that has reignited questions over its survival.

Voters handed her CDU party and its centre-left coalition partner SPD their worst score in European election history while doubling support for the Greens amid rising fears over global warming.

The Greens also snatched the second spot from the Social Democratic Party, coming in just behind Merkel's centre-right alliance.

Crucially, the environmental party took more than a million votes -- including many from young people -- each from the SPD as well as from the CDU.

Der Spiegel said the coalition is "in danger" after Sunday's drubbing.

"This instability can lead to a break up at any time. The CDU and SPD are deeply insecure parties. If, for example, SPD leader (Andrea) Nahles were to fall, the question of the continued existence of the coalition would immediately arise."

The SPD, stung by a beating at general elections in 2017, had initially sought to go into opposition.

But it was reluctantly coaxed into renewing a partnership with Merkel's centre-right alliance, and many within the party remain wary of continuing to govern in her shadow while taking the fall for any unpopular policies.

With the SPD also losing the top spot in stronghold Bremen during state elections Sunday, rumblings of discontent against the leadership may yet grow louder.

Already ahead of the vote, Bild is Sonntag quoted unnamed sources as saying that veteran politician Martin Schulz was ready to stand against Nahles when the parliamentary chief post comes up for renewal in September.

Slapping down the speculation, finance minister Olaf Scholz warned against putting Nahles' role in question.&nbsp;

"Calling for personal consequences would not help," he said.

Blindsided&nbsp;

But the SPD was not the only party in crisis mode after Sunday's debacle.

Merkel's CDU too had been blindsided by youth-led anger over global warming.

Key party figures admitted Sunday that they had campaigned on the wrong topics, as they overlooked climate which had overtaken immigration to become the main worry for Germans this year.

The momentum for the Green surge had been building up over months as the strikes started last November by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, 16, not only refused to lose steam but caught the imagination of youth across the world.

The Greens were further lent a boost in Germany by a prominent YouTuber whose online assault against Merkel's coalition accusing it of failing to act to halt global warming went viral.

The CDU struggled for days to put out the fire.

Just two days before the vote, the online star Rezo upped the ante and published a joint call with 70 influential YouTubers telling their millions of followers to shun parties in Merkel's coalition as well as the far-right AfD at the polls.

On Sunday, one in three under-30s picked the Greens, while only 13 per cent picked the CDU. The SPD also did not fare better, winning over only 10 per cent of the age group.

Party chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is poised to succeed Merkel when the veteran leader steps down in 2021, conceded, "Yes, we made mistakes in this election campaign, that has to be said."

Markus Soeder, who heads Merkel's Bavarian allies CSU, declared the environmental party its main rival.

"The biggest challenge of the future is the intensive debate with the Greens," he said, adding that "old measures that we had before, are no longer valid".

Underlining that the CDU-CSU bloc was struggling to win over young voters, he added that "we must work to be younger, cooler and more open".

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's embattled coalition will hold crisis talks Monday after a thumping at European polls that has reignited questions over its survival.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's embattled coalition will hold crisis talks Monday after a thumping at European polls that has reignited questions over its survival. Voters handed her CDU party and its centre-left coalition partner SPD their worst score in European election history while doubling support for the Greens amid rising fears over global warming. The Greens also snatched the second spot from the Social Democratic Party, coming in just behind Merkel's centre-right alliance. Crucially, the environmental party took more than a million votes -- including many from young people -- each from the SPD as well as from the CDU. Der Spiegel said the coalition is "in danger" after Sunday's drubbing. "This instability can lead to a break up at any time. The CDU and SPD are deeply insecure parties. If, for example, SPD leader (Andrea) Nahles were to fall, the question of the continued existence of the coalition would immediately arise." The SPD, stung by a beating at general elections in 2017, had initially sought to go into opposition. But it was reluctantly coaxed into renewing a partnership with Merkel's centre-right alliance, and many within the party remain wary of continuing to govern in her shadow while taking the fall for any unpopular policies. With the SPD also losing the top spot in stronghold Bremen during state elections Sunday, rumblings of discontent against the leadership may yet grow louder. Already ahead of the vote, Bild is Sonntag quoted unnamed sources as saying that veteran politician Martin Schulz was ready to stand against Nahles when the parliamentary chief post comes up for renewal in September. Slapping down the speculation, finance minister Olaf Scholz warned against putting Nahles' role in question. "Calling for personal consequences would not help," he said. Blindsided But the SPD was not the only party in crisis mode after Sunday's debacle. Merkel's CDU too had been blindsided by youth-led anger over global warming. Key party figures admitted Sunday that they had campaigned on the wrong topics, as they overlooked climate which had overtaken immigration to become the main worry for Germans this year. The momentum for the Green surge had been building up over months as the strikes started last November by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, 16, not only refused to lose steam but caught the imagination of youth across the world. The Greens were further lent a boost in Germany by a prominent YouTuber whose online assault against Merkel's coalition accusing it of failing to act to halt global warming went viral. The CDU struggled for days to put out the fire. Just two days before the vote, the online star Rezo upped the ante and published a joint call with 70 influential YouTubers telling their millions of followers to shun parties in Merkel's coalition as well as the far-right AfD at the polls. On Sunday, one in three under-30s picked the Greens, while only 13 per cent picked the CDU. The SPD also did not fare better, winning over only 10 per cent of the age group. Party chief Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is poised to succeed Merkel when the veteran leader steps down in 2021, conceded, "Yes, we made mistakes in this election campaign, that has to be said." Markus Soeder, who heads Merkel's Bavarian allies CSU, declared the environmental party its main rival. "The biggest challenge of the future is the intensive debate with the Greens," he said, adding that "old measures that we had before, are no longer valid". Underlining that the CDU-CSU bloc was struggling to win over young voters, he added that "we must work to be younger, cooler and more open".

Angela Merkel's coalition in crisis talks after European Union vote debacle

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday he would work on improving political and economic ties with Germany during a visit to the country later this month.

Turkey is seeking to improve its awkward relationship with Europe at a time when its ties with the United States have deteriorated and the lira has been falling sharply.

Erdogan is also travelling to the US to attend a United Nations meeting and will meet with US investors before visiting Germany between September 27 and 29.

"Our priority agenda on my visit to Germany will be completely leaving behind the period experienced in recent years in our political relations," he said at a press conference prior to his departure for the US.

"It will (also) be the steps that can be taken to carry our economic ties further on a mutually beneficial basis."

Relations between Germany and Turkey deteriorated after a post-coup crackdown in Turkey that has seen tens of thousands of people imprisoned since 2016, including some German citizens.

There has been a slight thaw in recent months since Turkey released one German-Turkish journalist and allowed another German citizen to leave the country.

Germany is home to a three-million-strong Turkish diaspora, the world's largest, many of whom have dual citizenship. German officials believe they have little choice but to improve ties, despite concerns over human rights in Turkey.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said after meeting with his Turkish counterpart on Friday that Erdogan will not ask for economic aid when he meets Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Turkey's lira has lost nearly 40 per cent of its value this year on concerns over Erdogan's grip on monetary policy. More recently Ankara has accused the US of waging "economic war" amid a bitter standoff between the NATO allies over the fate of a Christian pastor detained by Ankara.

Erdogan also met with representatives from US companies in Ankara on Wednesday.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday he would work on improving political and economic ties with Germany during a visit to the country later this month.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday he would work on improving political and economic ties with Germany during a visit to the country later this month. Turkey is seeking to improve its awkward relationship with Europe at a time when its ties with the United States have deteriorated and the lira has been falling sharply. Erdogan is also travelling to the US to attend a United Nations meeting and will meet with US investors before visiting Germany between September 27 and 29. "Our priority agenda on my visit to Germany will be completely leaving behind the period experienced in recent years in our political relations," he said at a press conference prior to his departure for the US. "It will (also) be the steps that can be taken to carry our economic ties further on a mutually beneficial basis." Relations between Germany and Turkey deteriorated after a post-coup crackdown in Turkey that has seen tens of thousands of people imprisoned since 2016, including some German citizens. There has been a slight thaw in recent months since Turkey released one German-Turkish journalist and allowed another German citizen to leave the country. Germany is home to a three-million-strong Turkish diaspora, the world's largest, many of whom have dual citizenship. German officials believe they have little choice but to improve ties, despite concerns over human rights in Turkey. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said after meeting with his Turkish counterpart on Friday that Erdogan will not ask for economic aid when he meets Chancellor Angela Merkel. Turkey's lira has lost nearly 40 per cent of its value this year on concerns over Erdogan's grip on monetary policy. More recently Ankara has accused the US of waging "economic war" amid a bitter standoff between the NATO allies over the fate of a Christian pastor detained by Ankara. Erdogan also met with representatives from US companies in Ankara on Wednesday.

Turkish President Erdogan seeks better economic, political ties with Germany

Chancellor Angela Merkel today vowed to work with the Social Democrats for the &quot;good of Germany&quot;, after the centre-left party agreed to join her new coalition, but the veteran leader will go into her fourth term with weaker cards than before.

Two in three of the SPD&#39;s rank and file voting in a make or break referendum backed a new partnership with Merkel&#39;s conservatives, heralding an end to the political stalemate that has plagued Europe&#39;s biggest economy since September&#39;s inconclusive elections.

But the chancellor, in power for 12 years, has had to pay a high price to coax the reluctant Social Democratic Party (SPD) back into another loveless &quot;grand coalition&quot;.

Congratulating the SPD for its &quot;clear result&quot;, Merkel said using her CDU party&#39;s Twitter account that she was looking forward to &quot;further cooperation for the good of our country&quot;.

Stung by their worst post-war results, the SPD had initially ruled out another four years under Merkel&#39;s shadow.

But after Merkel&#39;s attempt to cobble together a government with two smaller parties failed, the SPD relented.

With the party riven over its way forward, its leadership promised its more than 460,000 members the final say on any coalition deal.

&quot;We now have clarity. The SPD will be in the next government,&quot; said SPD&#39;s caretaker chairman Olaf Scholz, adding his party plans to send three male and three female ministers to the cabinet.

European partners waiting impatiently for post-war Germany to end its longest stretch of coalition haggling heaved a sigh of relief, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling the SPD decision &quot;good news for Europe.&quot;

&quot;France and Germany will work together starting in the coming weeks to develop new initiatives for advancing the European project,&quot; Macron&#39;s office said.

In a nod to the the abbreviation &quot;GroKo&quot; as the grand right-left coalition is known in Germany, European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans wrote on Twitter: &quot;GroGO! For solidarity in Germany and EU!&quot;

Following the SPD&#39;s emphatic decision for a new partnership, Merkel is expected to launch her fourth government by mid-March.

But the long-serving leader faces a far rockier road ahead than in the last four years.

Unlike in their previous partnership when Merkel&#39;s conservatives and the SPD enjoyed a crushing majority, this time they now have only a slim 56 per cent (399 out of total 709) of seats in parliament.

Both sides had been weakened as voters angry about the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers in Germany since 2015 turned to the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Noting that it would be the biggest opposition party now that the SPD has joined the government, the AfD&#39;s parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel promised that &quot;the bill will come at the latest in 2021.&quot;

Wary of ceding further ground to the far-right Islamophobic outfit as voters turn away from traditional parties, Merkel&#39;s conservatives and the SPD have inserted a clause to review their cooperation in two years.

Dissenting voices in the SPD also promise to keep the long-time partners on their toes.

The SPD&#39;s youth chief Kevin Kuehnert, who ran an impassioned campaign against the planned coalition known as &quot;GroKo&quot;, expressed disappointment at today&#39;s vote result.

&quot;When criticism is necessary, then it will come from us,&quot; he vowed, adding that young Social Democrats won&#39;t rest until there is a &quot;fundamental renewal&quot; in the party.

Within her ranks too, Merkel, who once seemed invincible, is looking increasingly vulnerable as calls grow louder for change.

Opponents of her liberal refugee policy have grown more outspoken, while the conservative wing of her party is seething at having lost control of the powerful finance ministry to the Social Democrats as part of the coalition deal.

For the chancellor,who is under pressure within her party to rejuvenate her ranks, the clock is essentially ticking to groom her successor.

In a bid to tamp down criticism, Merkel has brought one of her most outspoken CDU critics, Jens Spahn, into her next cabinet as health minister.

Spahn, 37, a former deputy to hardliner Wolfgang Schaeuble at the finance ministry, has repeatedly slammed Merkel&#39;s centrist policies, particularly on immigration.

He has also advocated a sharp conservative shift in a bid to woo back voters from the AfD, which garnered nearly 13 per cent in the September election.

Announcing the new line-up, Merkel called Spahn &quot;a representative of the younger generation&quot; who would play a constructive role.

But crucially, at a congress this week, her party also formally appointed its new general secretary, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, tapped by Merkel to kickstart the renewal process.

Sueddeutsche daily noted that &quot;she is the one who has made it clear that the CDU is now no longer without a successor for Merkel&quot;.

Chancellor Angela Merkel today vowed to work with the Social Democrats for the 'good of Germany', after the centre-left party agreed to join her new coalition

Chancellor Angela Merkel today vowed to work with the Social Democrats for the "good of Germany", after the centre-left party agreed to join her new coalition, but the veteran leader will go into her fourth term with weaker cards than before. Two in three of the SPD's rank and file voting in a make or break referendum backed a new partnership with Merkel's conservatives, heralding an end to the political stalemate that has plagued Europe's biggest economy since September's inconclusive elections. But the chancellor, in power for 12 years, has had to pay a high price to coax the reluctant Social Democratic Party (SPD) back into another loveless "grand coalition". Congratulating the SPD for its "clear result", Merkel said using her CDU party's Twitter account that she was looking forward to "further cooperation for the good of our country". Stung by their worst post-war results, the SPD had initially ruled out another four years under Merkel's shadow. But after Merkel's attempt to cobble together a government with two smaller parties failed, the SPD relented. With the party riven over its way forward, its leadership promised its more than 460,000 members the final say on any coalition deal. "We now have clarity. The SPD will be in the next government," said SPD's caretaker chairman Olaf Scholz, adding his party plans to send three male and three female ministers to the cabinet. European partners waiting impatiently for post-war Germany to end its longest stretch of coalition haggling heaved a sigh of relief, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling the SPD decision "good news for Europe." "France and Germany will work together starting in the coming weeks to develop new initiatives for advancing the European project," Macron's office said. In a nod to the the abbreviation "GroKo" as the grand right-left coalition is known in Germany, European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans wrote on Twitter: "GroGO! For solidarity in Germany and EU!" Following the SPD's emphatic decision for a new partnership, Merkel is expected to launch her fourth government by mid-March. But the long-serving leader faces a far rockier road ahead than in the last four years. Unlike in their previous partnership when Merkel's conservatives and the SPD enjoyed a crushing majority, this time they now have only a slim 56 per cent (399 out of total 709) of seats in parliament. Both sides had been weakened as voters angry about the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers in Germany since 2015 turned to the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). Noting that it would be the biggest opposition party now that the SPD has joined the government, the AfD's parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel promised that "the bill will come at the latest in 2021." Wary of ceding further ground to the far-right Islamophobic outfit as voters turn away from traditional parties, Merkel's conservatives and the SPD have inserted a clause to review their cooperation in two years. Dissenting voices in the SPD also promise to keep the long-time partners on their toes. The SPD's youth chief Kevin Kuehnert, who ran an impassioned campaign against the planned coalition known as "GroKo", expressed disappointment at today's vote result. "When criticism is necessary, then it will come from us," he vowed, adding that young Social Democrats won't rest until there is a "fundamental renewal" in the party. Within her ranks too, Merkel, who once seemed invincible, is looking increasingly vulnerable as calls grow louder for change. Opponents of her liberal refugee policy have grown more outspoken, while the conservative wing of her party is seething at having lost control of the powerful finance ministry to the Social Democrats as part of the coalition deal. For the chancellor,who is under pressure within her party to rejuvenate her ranks, the clock is essentially ticking to groom her successor. In a bid to tamp down criticism, Merkel has brought one of her most outspoken CDU critics, Jens Spahn, into her next cabinet as health minister. Spahn, 37, a former deputy to hardliner Wolfgang Schaeuble at the finance ministry, has repeatedly slammed Merkel's centrist policies, particularly on immigration. He has also advocated a sharp conservative shift in a bid to woo back voters from the AfD, which garnered nearly 13 per cent in the September election. Announcing the new line-up, Merkel called Spahn "a representative of the younger generation" who would play a constructive role. But crucially, at a congress this week, her party also formally appointed its new general secretary, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, tapped by Merkel to kickstart the renewal process. Sueddeutsche daily noted that "she is the one who has made it clear that the CDU is now no longer without a successor for Merkel".

Merkel vows 'good for Germany' as SPD paves way for her fourth term

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