Germany’s Free Democrats, a potential coalition partner for Chancellor Angela Merkel, rejected the expansion of the euro area and suggested that Russia be readmitted to the Group of Seven as party jockey for the position ahead of next Sunday’s national elections.
With polls showing the chancellor’s Christian Democrat-led bloc with a lead and Martin Schulz’s Social Democratic Party second, the race for third place will help determine the makeup of the new government if Merkel wins the fourth term on Sept. 24. Free Christian Democrat Party leader Christian Lindner sought to make his mark Sunday in part with a swipe at Merkel over her handling of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
