Schulz under pressure for alliance with Merkel

Since his party's deep defeat in the September 24th legislative elections, the SPD leader has repeatedly voiced his refusal to continue coalition with Merkel's CDU, preferring to go into opposition to recover.

But, after Sunday's failure of negotiations between the CDU, the Gjerbers and the Liberals on forming a government and facing the threat of early elections, his refusal becomes more controversial.

German Social Democrat Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who seeks to avoid early legislative elections, will host German Social Democrats head Martin Schulz on Thursday and will try to persuade him to negotiate with Merkel.

“I am sure we will find a good solution for our country in the days and weeks to come”, Schulz told the German news agency DPA today, adding that the SPD was completely incapacitated for its responsibility.

He is the last of the party leaders the German president has predicted to host this week under mediation.

In the event of early elections, some MPs fear they could be punished by voters for prolonging the political crisis. Some think the SPD is not ready for a new election campaign.

European Commissioner for Budget, German Gunter Oettinger again exerted pressure on Martin Schulz, former president of the European Parliament.

“In the name of Germany's operational capacity in Europe, the SP should think well and wonder if it would be good not to enter a government”, the conservative for Spiegel stressed.

For Schulz, his failure in legislative elections and mediocre points for Merkel's conservative party undoubtedly shows that Germans do not want a major coalition.