The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) has told party members that they may have to grin and bear a coalition with Angela Merkel’s conservatives to form a government. The centre-left SPD suffered a crushing defeat in September’s election.<br /><br />Newly re-elected SPD Chairman Sigmar Gabriel told the party congress in Leipzig: “The party was unable to convince voters on its key competence, which is social justice.”<br /><br />Gabriel continued, “This coalition, should it become a reality and be approved by our members, will be a limited coalition of sober rationality. Nothing more, nothing less.”<br /><br />There has been discontent among the SPD ranks at the prospect of becoming Merkel’s junior coalition partners again for the second time in a decade.<br /><br />When the coalition talks finally produce a framework for government, SPD members will have the last say on whether the party signs up to it – in a postal vote to be held in late November or early December.<br /><br />Merkel’s conservatives have already rejected tax increases and joint-area euro bonds. But the SPD is holding firm on several demands that it calls “non-negotiable”, including a minimum wage of 8.50 euros per hour and equal pay for men and women.
