Talks hope to break Germany impasse

BErLiN: Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with Social Democrat chief Martin Schulz hoping to end Germany’s political stalemate, but the atmosphere has already been poisoned by disobedience within her ranks.

Held at the invitation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the talks lasted two hours as party leaders sought to explore if they are ready to launch negotiations on forming Germany’s next government.

After September’s elections left Merkel without a majority, the Social Democrats (SPD) firmly ruled out renewing an alliance as they had suffered a humiliating loss at the polls.

But as Merkel’s bid to form a coalition with the ecologist Greens and pro-business FDP fell apart earlier this month, the SPD came under pressure to relent and head off fresh elections.

Public opinion also appeared to be behind the two sides opening talks, with a poll commissioned by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung showing 61% of Germans want the SPD to enter coalition negotiations with Merkel’s conservatives.

Spiegel weekly noted that Thursday’s meeting, which also ropes in Horst Seehofer – leader of Merkel’s Bavarian allies – was crucial for the chancellor.

“For Merkel, it’s a fight for political survival that’s starting,” said Spiegel.

“Merkel must do everything to forge this alliance – the only one that would ensure stable power,” it added.

But the talks are clouded by a political storm sparked this week by a member of her conservatives, Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt, who flouted the government’s line by voting in favour of approving a disputed weedkiller dur- ing an EU meeting.

The action, which Schmidt said he took unilaterally, was condemned as a “breach of trust” by the SPD, which has been junior coalition partner in Merkel’s Cabinet since 2013.

With Merkel now wooing the SPD, Schmidt’s action could come at a high price for the conservatives.

“It will weigh on the talks, no question about that,” said Carsten Linnemann, who leads the CDU’s federation of small- and medium-size companies.

SPD chief whip Carsten Schneider told broadcaster ARD that the episode showed “Madame Merkel does not have her shop under control”.

Few are expecting a swift deal from the talks.

“Do not expect things it to go fast,” foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel told ZDF television.

But Merkel’s interior minister Thomas de Maiziere struck a positive note.

“We will seriously try to build a stable government with the Social Democrats, if the SPD is ready,” he was quoted by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung as saying.

Merkel must do everything to forge this alliance – the only one that would ensure stable power. Spiegel