Sunday’s Social Democrat (SPD) vote in Bonn to enter coalition talks was less of a yes than a “yes, but”. Instead, a record 17 weeks after Germany’s federal election, her preferred SPD coalition partner is tormenting Dr Merkel with the very same “baby steps” strategy she has used against them in two previous terms. In an echo of Northern Ireland peace talks, Sunday’s vote moves Germany from talks about talks to formal coalition talks in Berlin, likely to begin on Monday. After yesterday’s SPD vote, the upcoming talks are likely to be very robust. Mr Steve Hudson, head of the SPD anti-grand coalition campaign, said after Sunday’s vote: “Now the members have the chance to rescue their party.”

Source: The Irish Times January 22, 2018 00:56 UTC