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Germany's CDU and SPD to Start Formal Coalition Talks

by VOA News

   German conservatives are preparing for formal coalition talks with
   Social Democrats (SPD) Monday shortly after the center-left party voted
   to break the months of political deadlock.

   Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Union bloc (CDU) and SPD of
   Martin Schultz are expected to open formal negotiation this week on
   extending their coalition of the past four years.

   Conservatives are warning, however, that they are not prepared to
   renegotiate preliminary agreements on such issues as migration.

   Julia Kloeckner (Klöckner), a deputy leader of CDU, told ARD
   television Monday that the upcoming negotiations will focus on
   advancing of what was already agreed "but not bring up something that
   was already rejected.''

   An SPD congress voted Sunday to pursue coalition talks with CDU,
   endorsing a plan agreed to earlier this month to compromise on issues
   such as health policy and the right of migrants' families to join them
   in Germany.