Merkel Hemmed In by Hard-Liners Pushing Right in Coalition Talks
- Chancellor needs deal with conservatives, SPD for fourth term
- Party leaders have good reasons to avoid failure: Schmieding
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Angela Merkel’s own party bloc is making her life more difficult as hard-liners seek to force the German chancellor to shift to the right in talks on setting up a government.
After more than three months of post-election stalemate, Merkel is seeking a commitment this week from the Social Democrats to start formal negotiations on extending their governing alliance. Any coalition pact also has to accommodate her Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, and its tough line on immigration and European policy.