UPDATE - Merkel invites SPD to enter coalition talks

UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY SPD LEADER SCHULZ, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - Germany’s chancellor on Monday invited the Social Democratic Party (SPD) for preliminary talks to form a conservative-left coalition government, a week after the collapse of talks between her Christian Democratic bloc (CDU/CSU), the pro-business FDP, and the Greens.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin following a meeting of her party executive, Angela Merkel stressed Germany needs a stable government to address domestic and international challenges.

“We are ready to enter into talks with the SPD,” she said, and underlined that they know these talks “require compromise” on both sides.

Merkel’s CDU/CSU failed to create a three-way government with the pro-business FDP and the Greens, after weeks of negotiations following the Sept. 24 federal election.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier last week invited leaders of the CDU, CSU, and SPD for a summit this Thursday to break the political deadlock.

Social Democrat leader Martin Schulz told reporters on Monday that he will attend this summit and later consult with party's executive board on Friday, before taking any further steps.

"No option is off the table,” he stressed, mentioning the SPD’s support for a CDU/CSU minority government or formation of a new “grand coalition” as possible options.

Schulz promised that any agreement would eventually be voted on by party members.

The SPD leader previously opposed a coalition with the CDU/CSU, arguing that the election result meant voters had rejected the option of another grand coalition between the SPD and the CDU/CSU.

However, several leading Social Democrat politicians have supported a coalition or backing a minority CDU/CSU government.

Both the CDU/CSU and the SPD were severely weakened in September’s poll, and many in the SPD have blamed their poor showing on the party’s membership in the previous coalition.

Although Merkel’s bloc is still the biggest group in parliament, it needs the support of either the SPD, which has the second-largest group in parliament, or two smaller parties to form a government.