German Social Democrats ‘open to coalition talks’ with other parties

Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) are ready to hold talks with other parties on breaking political deadlock, a senior member of the center-left group said. Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to form a coalition government with the Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens. The SPD earlier said it would go into opposition after suffering its worst result of the postwar period in a September election. “The SPD will not say no to discussions,” SPD General Secretary Hubertus Heil said on Friday, Reuters reports. The decision makes it less likely that a new election will be necessary. Heil did not say with which parties the Social Democrats would negotiate. It was not clear either whether they aim to be in a governing coalition or simply provide parliamentary support to a minority government led by Merkel.