German Chancellor Angela Merkel moved a step closer to forming a coalition government with her center-left rivals on Wednesday, after four months of political uncertainty.
A spokesperson for the SPD confirmed it had reached a deal with Merkel’s center-right CDU, but stressed that it would need to be formally approved by the party’s 460,000 members.
The announcement represents a huge breakthrough for Merkel, who has struggled to form a government since suffering embarrassment at September’s election.
But the latest deal means that a return to the the so-called “grand coalition” between the CDU and SPD, which has been in power for the last 12 years, appears to be on the cards.
Such a move will also leave the right-wing Alternative for Germany party as the man opposition in the German parliament.
The AfD’s anti-immigration stance proved hugely popular with voters, winning 12.6% of the vote, a result described by leading party figures as a “political earthquake.”
More to follow…