TALKS FAIL, BUT MERKEL REJECTS SNAP ELECTION

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has rejected new elections and wanted to form a new government quickly, as a consequence of the failed government coalition talks with the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens, reports IANS.

“The people have voted, and I absolutely do not favour, if we can’t do anything with the result, asking people to vote again,” Merkel said on Saturday at a party conference of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Merkel is facing the most serious political crisis since she assumed office 12 years ago after the breakdown of the government coalition exploratory talks on November 19.

The FDP decided to withdraw the talks with the Greens, the CDU and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), for a new coalition government after the September 24 federal elections.

People have voted, and I absolutely do not favour asking people to vote again –Angela Merkel German Chancellor

The CDU leader also said talks with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) would have to be conducted on the basis of mutual respect, and the compromise is part of it.

Seehofer, the leader of Merkel’s Bavarian sister party said that an alliance between the conservatives and the SPD is the best option for Germany, better in any case than ‘Jamaica’, new elections or a minority government.