‘Merkel’s fall has begun!’ Chancellor’s last-chance coalition talks as her popularity dips
GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel has entered crunch talks to form a coalition and end political instability, but experts warn “her decline has begun” as she has support from just 25 percent of the country.
By TOM GILLESPIE
Express.co.uk
Sat, Feb 3, 2018
Politicians in Mrs Merkel’s Christian Democratic Unionists (CDU) are also said to be growing dissatisfied with her leadership, according to Swiss website Aargauer Zeitung.
The claims have come as the Chancellor seeks to form a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), after elections in Germany last year failed to secure the CDU a majority.
The two parties have agreed compromises on care and pensions laws, but the emotionally-charged topic of reuniting temporarily sheltered refugees is said to be off the table.
Coalition talks could end on Sunday night, with little desire for a government alliance between Merkel’s CDU and the SPD.
An agreement would mark Germany’s third major coalition since 2005.
But some members of the CDU would rather see a fresh election in Germany rather than a deal with the SPD, according to Aargauer Zeitung.
CDU members opposed to Mrs Merkel would hope for a personnel change if there was a fresh general election, according to centrist liberal paper Die Zeit.
An article in tthe German weekly read: “Her options have decreased dramatically.
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