Germany’s SPD Agrees to Keep Merkel in Power

Members of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) have voted in favor of entering a coalition with Angela Merkel’s conservatives.

Members of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) have voted in favor of entering a coalition with Angela Merkel’s conservatives.
The decision clears the way for a re-run of the “grand coalition” which has governed Germany since 2013 and hands the Chancellor a fourth term in office.
According to the Independent, it puts an end to five months of political uncertainty in Europe’s largest economy – the longest the country has been without a government in its post-war history.

The Centre-left SPD had furiously debated whether to extend the “grand coalition” for another four years after suffering a slump in last year’s election.
In the end, 66 per cent of the party’s 464,000 members approved a coalition deal.
Parliament is expected to meet next week to elect Ms. Merkel as chancellor, confirming her position as one of Europe’s dominant politicians.