Merkel sets sights on reform and trade

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is keen to get on with things, now she has finally put together a coalition that allows her to lead the nation for a fourth term.

Reuters said her immediate plans, as outlined on Monday, include working with France on trade policy and the conflict in Syria.

The BBC said she also wants to secure jobs and prosperity for her country and ensure Germany has a strong voice at the European Union.

“What we’re seeing and hearing every day is that Europe needs to step up and Germany needs to have a strong voice there, along with France and other member states (of the European Union),” Reuters reported her as saying.

Merkel and her Christian Democrats have run Germany since 2005.

She has led since September in a caretaker capacity, after national elections failed to produce a clear winner. She has since focused on creating a coalition government. The Social Democrats, or SPD, finally agreed to support her on Sunday after polling grassroots members and getting support from two-thirds of those who voted.

Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international broadcaster, said the SPD will provide Germany’s next finance minister and several other top jobs. Another party that is supporting Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, the Christian Social Union, has also been promised key jobs in the new government.

The Times newspaper said 63-year-old Merkel now has a sense of urgency.

“It is important that we start working as soon as possible,” Merkel said.

Her focus is partly in response to United States President Donald Trump shocking his European allies last week with plans to put tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, a move that led the European Union to warn of countermeasures.

The BBC reported that Merkel said: “Almost six months after the election, the people expect something to happen now.”

Despite the left-leaning SPD and the center-right Christian Democrats not seeing eye-toeye on all issues, Germans expect the coalition to last.

According to a poll published on Monday, more than six in 10 Germans believe it will serve a full four-year term. And, a separate poll conducted by the Bild newspaper, shows more than 56 percent of Germans believe Merkel will also complete the full term.

Her government will face strong opposition from the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party, which came out of nowhere in September to grab 12 percent of the vote.