Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman Sigmar Gabriel, right, welcomes Angela Merkel, German Chancellor and chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union, CDU, left, and the Chief of Staff at the chancellery Ronald Pofalla, center, at the Social Democrat’s headquarters for coalition talks in Berlin, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013. Following the Sept. 22 national elections Chancellor Merkel and her Christian parties’ bloc are negotiating the second week on forming a coalition with the Social Democratic Party. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Germany New Government
Social Democratic Party (SPD) coalition talks delegation from left: Peer Steinbrueck, faction leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier, North Rhine-Westphalia governor Hannelore Kraft, SPD chairman Sigmar Gabriel, party Secretary General, Andrea Nahles, Hamburg mayor Olaf Scholz and Manuela Schwesig Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania minister for Labor and Social Affaires wait at the beginning of a meeting with representatives of the Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) and the Christian Social Union party (CSU) in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013. Following the Sept. 22 national elections Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian parties’ bloc are negotiating the second week to form a coalition with the Social Democratic Party. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
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BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s main center-left party aims to ballot members on whether to join conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel in government by mid-December — potentially clearing the way for Merkel to be sworn in for a third term before Christmas.
The Social Democrats are in talks with Merkel’s Union bloc on forming a new coalition after the conservatives won September elections, but saw their previous pro-business partners voted out of parliament.
The center-left party will seek approval of a coalition agreement from its entire 470,000-strong membership.
In a letter to members Friday, party leaders say they plan to begin the ballot Dec. 6 and announce the results by Dec. 15. A “yes” vote would clear the way for an end to Germany’s postelection political limbo; meantime, the outgoing Cabinet remains in office.
