Markel races to prop up power as coalition talks resume

BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel called yesterday for a quick end to the last stretch of tortuous negotiations to forge a government for Germany, in a race against time to stop her power slipping away at home and abroad, reports AFP.

As she arrived for the final round of talks with potential partners in her fourth government, the Social Democrats, (SPD) she said the country and Europe could not afford to wait much longer.

“We will see to it that we negotiate quickly,” Merkel told reporters. “I think people expect us to move toward a government and that is why I am entering the talks optimistically and with determination. “It’s not only about a fresh start for Europe but also for Germany.”

The SPD had on Sunday only narrowly voted to launch formal coalition negotiations with her conservative alliance on the basis of a preliminary deal hammered out earlier this month.

However the outcome of the talks gathering the SPD as well as Merkel’s CDU party and Bavarian CSU allies is far from certain.

Stung by a record low score in September’s elections, the SPD is torn internally on whether it should once again govern under Merkel.

Its youth wing is energetically canvassing for votes to veto any deal for a new grand coalition—known as the “GroKo”—when the 440,000 members of the country’s second biggest party hold a referendum on the question. Merkel’s camp wants negotiations wrapped up by mid-February, giving the SPD a few weeks to organise its crucial vote. A government could then be in place by the end of March. What is clear is that the delay is eating away at Merkel’s influence domestically and internationally.

In Germany, there is talk about the autumn of her reign, even if no serious candidate has emerged to rival her. “Each additional day where she has to content herself with being just a caretaker chancellor weakens her, and the longer the negotiations go on, the more the population’s discontent grows,” said Die Zeit weekly.

And abroad, attention is drifting to France and its young leader Emmanuel Macron, who is increasingly hailed as the go-to leader in Europe. Nowhere was the contrast between Macron and Merkel’s position more obvious than at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting of political and economic leaders in Davos this week, where analysts said the French leader stole the show from the veteran chancellor.

 

Markel races to prop up power as coalition talks resume

BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel called yesterday for a quick end to the last stretch of tortuous negotiations to forge a government for Germany, in a race against time to stop her power slipping away at home and abroad, reports AFP. As she arrived for the final round of talks with potential partners in her fourth government, the Social Democrats, (SPD) she said the country and Europe could not afford to wait much longer. We will see to it that we negotiate quickly, Merkel told reporters. I think people expect us to move toward a government and that is why I am entering the talks optimistically and with determination. Its not only about a fresh start for Europe but also for Germany. The SPD had on Sunday only narrowly voted to launch formal coalition negotiations with her conservative alliance on the basis of a preliminary deal hammered out earlier this month. However the outcome of the talks gathering the SPD as well as Merkels CDU party and Bavarian CSU allies is far from certain. Stung by a record low score in Septembers elections, the SPD is torn internally on whether it should once again govern under Merkel. Its youth wing is energetically canvassing for votes to veto any deal for a new grand coalitionknown as the GroKowhen the 440,000 members of the countrys second biggest party hold a referendum on the question. Merkels camp wants negotiations wrapped up by mid-February, giving the SPD a few weeks to organise its crucial vote. A government could then be in place by the end of March. What is clear is that the delay is eating away at Merkels influence domestically and internationally. In Germany, there is talk about the autumn of her reign, even if no serious candidate has emerged to rival her. Each additional day where she has to content herself with being just a caretaker chancellor weakens her, and the longer the negotiations go on, the more the populations discontent grows, said Die Zeit weekly. And abroad, attention is drifting to France and its young leader Emmanuel Macron, who is increasingly hailed as the go-to leader in Europe. Nowhere was the contrast between Macron and Merkels position more obvious than at the World Economic Forums annual meeting of political and economic leaders in Davos this week, where analysts said the French leader stole the show from the veteran chancellor.