Germanycoalition talks fail, Merkel faces crisis
POLL AGAIN? A tiredlooking Merkel said she would stay on as acting chancellor BERLIN:
Effortstoformathree-way coalitiongovernmenthavefailed, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday, pitching Germany into its worse political crisis for decades, raising the prospect of new elections and casting doubt over her future.
The pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) withdrewfrom talks after more than four weeks of fruitless negotiations with Merkel’s conservative bloc and the environmentalist Greens, saying there was not enough common ground.
WithGermanleadershipseen as crucial for a European Union grappling with governance reform and Britain’s impending exit, FDP leader Christian Lindner’sannouncementthathewas pulling out spooked investors and sent the euro falling.
A tired-looking Merkel said shewouldstayonasactingchancellor and consult President Frank-WalterSteinmeieronhow tomoveforward.Adealhadbeen within reach, she said.
With the Social Democrats (SPD)stickingonMondaytotheir pledgeafterlossesinaSeptember election not to go back into a Merkel-led “grand coalition” of centre-left and centre-right, the most likely option looked to be new elections.
Steinmeier, who in the ordinarycourseofeventsismeantto play a non-partisan role above the cut-and-thrust of party politics, wasduetogiveastatement .
“Itisadayofdeepreflectionon how to go forward in Germany,” Merkeltoldreporters.“Aschancellor, I will do everything to ensure that this country is well managedinthedifficultweeksto
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Thefailureof coalition talks is unprecedented in Germany’s post-warhistory,andwaslikened by newsmagazine Der Spiegel to the shock election of U.S. President Donald Trump or Britain’s referendum vote to leave the EU - moments when countries cast aside reputations for stability built up over decades.
The collapse came as a surprise since the main sticking points-immigrationandclimate change policy - were not seen as FDP signature issues.
Greenpolitician MichaelKellneraccused Lindner of “badtheatrics”, one of many who suggested the liberal, pro-business party had never been serious about negotiating.
“It is better not to rule than to rule the wrong way. Goodbye!” Lindner said, announcing his withdrawal in the small hours, blamingthebreakdownonalack of progress on education and tax policy - areas that had been seen as less contentious.
“Christian‘Betternodealthan a bad deal’ Lindner - Germany’s Boris Johnson,” wrote political commentator Max Steinbeis on Facebook,comparingLindnerto the British foreign minister and Brexitcampaignerwhoiswidely seenbyGermany’spoliticalclass asadangerousandheedlessloose cannon.
Germanynowfacesunappealing options not experienced in Germany’spost-WorldWarTwo era:Merkelformsaminoritygovernment, or the president calls a new election if no government is formed. The main parties fear that another election so soon wouldletthefar-right,anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD)partyaddtothe13%ofvotes it secured in September.