The CDU, with its Bavarian sister the Christian Social Union (CSU), is Germany’s main centre-right party and heads the outgoing coalition government. The Social Democratic party (SPD) is the country’s main centre-left party and the junior partner in the outgoing CDU-led coalition. The party lost a traditional stronghold, North Rhine-Westphalia, in a regional election in May, and is heading for 23-25% of the vote. For obvious political reasons, both the CDU and SPD would much prefer to govern in coalition with one or more smaller parties. Germany’s voters, however, may well mandate another “grand coalition” uniting the country’s two biggest parties in what amounts to a marriage of necessity.

Source: The Guardian August 24, 2017 11:04 UTC