By Daisy Ayliffe - 6th October 2005
Leftwing followers of Gerhard Schroeder threatened to wreck a coalition deal with Germany's conservatives on Thursday, saying they would never work with Angela Merkel as chancellor.
The Social Democrat's left faction announced it would not vote for Merkel under any circumstances - indicating that a compromise may not be as close as many had hoped.
"I certainly won't," Ludwig Stiegler, the SPD's deputy parliamentary leader said.
Schroeder met Merkel last night for talks aimed at resolving the country’s electoral impasse.
But speculation that Schroeder was on the brink of stepping down at Thursday night’s meeting have proved premature or wrong.
Franz Muentefering, chairman of the Social Democrats reiterated his belief that Schroeder should remain chancellor.
Muentefering told reporters that his party was keeping its aim of governing “with Gerhard Schroeder at the helm."
Merkel stuck firmly to her own demand that the Social Democrats recognise her right, as the leader of the largest party in parliament, to be chancellor.
“We have always said that, to start (formal) coalition negotiations, a further condition must be fulfilled - a basis of trust must be created,” Merkel told reporters.
“This basis of trust can only be created if certain rules are respected."
Merkel said no agreement would be reached until Sunday evening at the earliest and officials on both sides must now gear up for a tough weekend of negotiations.
Schroeder and Merkel have been unable to agree on who should be chancellor and Schroeder has refused to concede defeat - even though the conservatives won four more seats in parliament.
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