Germany: talks on new coalition will start on Wednesday
Merkel, I favor quick talks
11 December, 15:59Merkel's conservative Union bloc and the center-left Social Democrats will begin discussions Wednesday on a possible extension of their coalition of the past four years. The Social Democrats insisted after a disastrous election result in September that they would go into opposition, but reluctantly agreed to reconsider after Merkel's coalition talks with two smaller parties collapsed.
Merkel said: "I favor quick talks, and I think a stable government is the basis on which we can work best with France and for Europe". She said a minority government "would not be a stable government". (ANSA).