German elites edge towards ‘grand coalition’

Germany’s political elites have taken tentative steps towards the formation of a ‘grand’ centrist coalition.

Christian and Social Democrat leaders and party bosses met on Thursday for a first exploratory discussion in a “constructive atmosphere”.

Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel and Gerhard Schroeder locked horns, with Bavarian right winger Edmund Stoiber and Social Democrat party boss Franz Muntefering in attendance.

Schroeder and Merkel refused to stand aside but both did not rule out reports that the pair may consider a shared German chancellorship on a two-year rotation basis.

“We made it understood that we consider that the mission of forming the government to be for the Christian Democrats,” said Merkel.

“As far as this is concerned, there are certain insights which must be left to mature within the Social Democratic Party”.

Another meeting is scheduled for September 28 and Muentefering indicated that way was clear for practical talks to break political deadlock.

Next Wednesday’s meeting is scheduled to last several hours with party bosses Volker Kauder, Markus Söder and Frank Walter Steinmeier engaged to carry out preliminary ground work over the next few days.

Muentefering hailed “huge progress” but stressed that Germany’s political class still has a long way to go.

“Everyone is well aware that all parties bear a great responsibility to form a stable government as quickly as possible,” he said.

“We are a long way from negotiations, but we have opened the perspective for concrete talks.”

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