Merkel’s CDU wants coalition to stay in place

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN - Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has urged its coalition partner Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday to swiftly elect a new leader and not endanger the coalition government’s ability to act.

Speaking to reporters following a party meeting in the capital Berlin, CDU chairwoman Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer expressed her respect for the SPD leader Andrea Nahles’s decision to resign as party leader.

“I assume that the Social Democrats will quickly make decisions on senior party positions and ensure that the grand coalition remains capable of acting,” she said.

“For the CDU it remains clear that this is not a time for party tactics. We remain committed to the grand coalition,” she added.

Earlier on Sunday, Nahles announced her plan to resign after the SPD suffered big losses in last week’s European elections and the regional elections in Bremen.

In a statement, Nahles said she would quit as party leader on Monday, and would also step down as parliamentary group leader on Tuesday, in order to open up the possibility for an orderly procedure to choose a successor.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition partner SPD recorded its worst result in last week’s European Parliament elections, sparking a furious debate within the party.

The SPD crashed to 15.8%, sharply down from the 27.3% of the vote it collected in 2014.