Angela Merkel’s conservative bloc and its left-of-centre rivals the Social Democrats have achieved a breakthrough in exploratory talks on forming a new “grand coalition”, raising hopes of an end to the political deadlock that has gripped Germany since inconclusive elections in September.
Financial Times: Merkel reaches ‘grand coalition’ breakthrough
State Premier for the state of Bavaria and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), Horst Seehofer shakes hands with the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Martin Schulz (R) as German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) at the end of a press conference after talks to form a new government on Jan. 12 at the SPD headquarters in Berlin.
