How can Germany emerge from the government crisis?

Free Democrats leader Christian Lindner announced yesterday evening that coalition talks on forming a new government with the conservative bloc of Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Greens had failed.

Claiming that the Free Democrats (FDP) are not ready to return to the negotiating table, below are listed the three steps that could be taken:

Return of the Former Coalition

To achieve the necessary majority in the German parliament, Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Christian Union (CSU) can form a major coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD).

So far, the SPD has refused to form a coalition with Merkel, sticking to the party's decision following poor results in the September elections.

Following the failure of coalition talks Sunday, one of the SPD leaders, Ralph Stegner, said his party had not changed its stance and that he wanted to remain in opposition.

A minority government

As the leader of the most popular party in the country, Merkel could also choose to lead a minority government, following joining the FDP or the Green to form the coalition.

That means Merkel will lose her majority in parliament and will have to seek the support of other parties for individual policy votes.

So far, minority governments in Germany have been a rare, existing phenomenon only at the land level.

This decision could harm the influence of Chancellor Merkel, who has always been seen by foreign leaders as the world's most powerful woman.

) Early elections

After a series of unsuccessful government-building efforts, Germany's president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, could disperse the current parliament and seek early elections.

Early elections must be held within 60 days.

Before that happens, Steinmeier must first launch a process involving a parliamentary vote to determine Merkel's post as a temporary Chancellor.

Merkel announced she will hold a meeting with Steinmeier and members of her party today to discuss future coalition steps.

However, early elections may be dangerous, since Merkel conservatives' members believe their development can bring poor results to the CDU block CSU, based on their lowest election score of 32.9 percent