{"id":399359,"date":"2018-02-07T15:38:26","date_gmt":"2018-02-07T15:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=399359"},"modified":"2018-02-07T15:38:26","modified_gmt":"2018-02-07T15:38:26","slug":"merkel-clinches-germany-coalition-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2018\/02\/merkel-clinches-germany-coalition-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Merkel clinches Germany coalition deal"},"content":{"rendered":"
Angela Merkel’s conservatives (CDU\/CSU) have finally hashed out a coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) that could break months of political deadlock in Germany.<\/p>\n
Negotiators have agreed on the division of key ministries – one of the last hurdles towards forming a government.<\/p>\n
It could end more than four months of wrangling since inconclusive elections in September.<\/p>\n
But the deal will still need to be approved by SPD members.<\/p>\n
Many in the party fear that re-entering a coalition with CDU\/CSU could damage it in the long term.<\/p>\n
In a joint news conference on Wednesday, Chancellor Merkel said the agreement gave the basis for a “good and stable government”.<\/p>\n
SPD leader Martin Schulz thanked the conservatives for making what he said were tough compromises.<\/p>\n
In a tweet, he said the deal “achieved a lot for people”\u00a0and he would be recommending that his party members accept it.<\/p>\n
What has been agreed?<\/strong><\/p>\n The SPD looks set to control six ministries, including finance and foreign affairs.<\/p>\n German media say Mr Schulz, a former president of the European Parliament, is hoping to get the job of foreign minister.<\/p>\n