On Wednesday morning, after 24 hours of nonstop negotiations, Germany's center-left Social Democrats (SDP) announced they have reached a deal to form a government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and its Bavarian sister party. Germany's government has been in limbo since an inconclusive Sept. 24 election, and after Merkel's talks to form a government with two smaller parties crumbled in November, SDP leader Martin Schulz reversed course and entered negotiations to once more form a governing coalition with the CDU.
According to Germany's dpa news agency, the agreement gives the Social Democrats control of the foreign, labor, and finance ministries, the finance minister being an especially big pickup. The proposed coalition will now go to a vote by the SDP's 460,000 members, and approval isn't guaranteed. The SDP had a terrible showing in the September election, and many party members blame that on its previous "grand coalition" with Merkel's government. If the deal falls apart, Merkel will have to lead a minority government or call new elections.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 20, 2025Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - Pam Bondi, retirement planning, and more
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportationCartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
-
Exploring the three great gardens of JapanThe Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wifespeed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster showSpeed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top GrammysSpeed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own roomSpeed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talksSpeed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tourSpeed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamationSpeed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box officeSpeed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
