Beleaguered Merkel bullish over grand coalition talks

Germany’s cornered Chancellor Angela Merkel said she is optimistic that talks between her conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) can be fruitful in stitching again the “grand coalition” that has governed the country from 2013 to 2017.

Merkel, who goes into the talks with high stakes, will face tough bargaining as the center-left seeks control over the country’s well-stocked exchequers in return for it being a part of the coalition, notes The Guardian.

Teaming up with the SPD remains the best bet for Merkel to form a stable government for a fourth term, after her attempts to cobble up a coalition with two small parties in November ended up as a futile exercise, writes Reuters.