Merkel's party backs coalition with SPD to form new govt.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has endorsed a deal for forming a coalition government with the Social Democrats (SPD).
In a party congress in Berlin on Monday, CDU delegates overwhelmingly backed the deal with the SPD, which was reached earlier this month.
The endorsement by around 1,000 members of the party came despite criticism within the right wing of the conservatives that feels increasingly alienated by Merkel’s centrist approaches.
Merkel vowed on Sunday to appoint major CDU critics in her future cabinet. The most prominent of them would be Jens Spahn, a 37-year-old known for his all-out opposition to Merkel. He would become health minister if Merkel manages to pass another hurdle to secure a fourth term in office, which is the need for a similar approval for the coalition deal among SPD members.
Merkel vowed in a speech in the beginning of the congress on Monday that she would work to respond to the shortcomings that have cost the party the lack of public trust. She said the ideals of the CDU were also in need of restructure.
“We need orientation for our country, orientation for our party,” said Merkel, adding that economic conservatism and individual liberties would remain key ideals for the CDU in a future government.
The coalition deal between Merkel and the SPD came earlier in February, after weeks of tough negotiations, which saw Merkel relinquish the key ministry of finance to the coalition partners while offering other concessions over issues of immigration, health and tax. The deal followed Merkel’s failure in forming a coalition with two lesser-known parties after the inconclusive general elections in September.
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