SPD denies 'green light' for new German government, but keeps options open
Social Democratic Party leader Martin Schulz has refuted reports that his party was ready to start coalition talks with Chancellor Merkel's conservatives. But he stopped short of a categorical no. 
A visibly irritated Social Democratic chairman Martin Schulz took to the podium in Berlin on Friday to deny that his party was ready to officially begin talks with conservatives toward forming a new grand coalition government. "I can completely repudiate the rumor that any green light has been given," Schulz said. "It is simply false and unacceptable. The way that erroneous reports are circulated destroys trust." Schulz's statement came the day after he met with conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bavarian conservative leader Horst Seehofer and German President Frank Walter Steinmeier to discuss the possibilities for a new German government. Germany's Bild newspaper and the news agencies Reuters and DPA reported earlier on Friday that a deal had been reached to pursue the grand coalition option. Read more: AnotherMerkel-led grand coalition in Germany: What you need to know Schulz said reports to that effect were the result of leaks from the conservative sources, adding that he had called Merkel to complain about the confidentiality of Thursday's meeting being violated. At the same time, he didn't slam any doors on the eventuality that Germany's two largest parties could form another new partnership. "There was a broad consensus about not closing down any options concerning the formation of a new government," Schulz told reporters. Earlier on Friday, SPD politicians said they would not be rushed into joining a new grand coalition. Speaking after Schulz's statement, CDU chief executive Klaus Schüler said his party respected what the SPD chairman had to say and would wait for the Social Democrats to make a decision about whether to officially pursue talks. Lots of opposition to talks within the SPD The unusually testy tone Schulz struck is a reflection of the differences between conservatives and Social Democrats not just over the policies of a possible grand coalition, but whether even to try to form one at all. Merkel would have few problems getting her parliamentary group to go along with talks about extending their current collaboration with the Social Democrats, as there is broad consensus among conservatives that a grand coalition is the only way forward. But for the SPD the situation isn't nearly as clear. On September 24, the Social Democrats under Schulz took only 20.5 percent of the vote. It was their worst-ever election performance in post-war German history, and many Social Democrats blamed the compromises the party made as part of the grand coalition that has governed Germany for the past four years. Opinion surveys suggest that the SPD rank-and-file have decidedly mixed feeling about a new edition of the grand coalition, and the party's youth organization, the Jusos, are dead set against it. By contrast, Steinmeier — himself a former SPD leader — is known to favor the grand coalition option. Schulz said the SPD executive committee would continue to discuss the party's options next week. He added that all alternatives would be left on the table at the Social Democrats' party conference from December 7 to 9 in Berlin. A renewal of the grand coalition that currently forms the caretaker government emerged as the most likely path to a new German government after the Free Democrats (FDP) withdrew from talks about forming a three-way coalition with conservatives and the Greens. The other options would be for the conservatives to form a minority government or for Germany to hold a snap election. But both are considered extremely problematic.
SPD
Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Freedom_and_Direct_Democracy Shepshed_Dynamo_F.C. Social_Democratic_Party Semen_Padang_F.C. Scottish_Football_League_Premier_Division Social_Democratic_Party_in_the_GDR St_Patrick's_College,_Dublin Serial_presence_detect S.P.D._(song) 1992–93_Scottish_Premier_Division 1987–88_Scottish_Premier_Division 1986–87_Scottish_Premier_Division Power_Rangers_S.P.D. SPD_Bavaria Norwegian_speciedaler
German
Social Democratic Party
Swedish_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Social_Democratic_Party_(Romania) Social_Democratic_Party_(UK) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Social_Democratic_Party_(Portugal) Social_Democratic_Party_(Faroe_Islands) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria Social_Democrats_(Denmark) Social_Democratic_Party_(Japan) Social_Democratic_Party_(Estonia) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina Social_Democratic_Party_of_Croatia Social_Democratic_Party_(Iceland) Czech_Social_Democratic_Party
leader
Martin Schulz
Martin_Schulz
Chancellor
Merkel
Angela_Merkel Merkel,_Texas Max_Merkel Merkel_(firearms_manufacturer) Alexander_Merkel Merkel_nerve_ending Flying_Merkel Pierre_Merkel Merkel_(surname) Fred_Merkel Ron_Merkel Germany
Social Democratic
Social_democracy Swedish_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democratic_Party_(Portugal) Social_Democratic_Party_(Japan) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Socialist_Party_of_America Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria Social_Democratic_Party_of_America Social_Democrats_(Denmark) Social_Democratic_Party_(UK) Social_Democratic_Party_(Romania) Socialism_in_the_Netherlands Social_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Czech_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democratic_Party_(Estonia)
chairman
Martin Schulz
Martin_Schulz
Berlin
Berlin Humboldt_University_of_Berlin Berlin_(band) German_Open_(WTA) Berlin,_New_Hampshire Berlin_Hauptbahnhof Olympiastadion_(Berlin) Berlin,_Connecticut Berlin_International_Film_Festival Berlin,_Maryland Berlin_(Lou_Reed_album) Berlin,_New_Jersey Berlin,_Massachusetts Berlin,_Wisconsin East_Berlin Battle_of_Berlin
Friday
Schulz
Schulz Nico_Schulz Christian_Schulz Hans-Ulrich_Schulz Johann_Abraham_Peter_Schulz Damian_Schulz Martin_Schulz Dick_Schulz Heinrich_E._M._Schulz Jan_Schulz Friedrich_Schulz Erwin_Schulz Thorsten_Schulz Stephan_Schulzer_von_Müggenburg Frank_Schulz_(footballer,_born_1961) Michael_Schulz
Schulz
Schulz Nico_Schulz Christian_Schulz Hans-Ulrich_Schulz Johann_Abraham_Peter_Schulz Damian_Schulz Martin_Schulz Dick_Schulz Heinrich_E._M._Schulz Jan_Schulz Friedrich_Schulz Erwin_Schulz Thorsten_Schulz Stephan_Schulzer_von_Müggenburg Frank_Schulz_(footballer,_born_1961) Michael_Schulz
Chancellor
Angela Merkel
Angela_Merkel
Bavarian
conservative leader
Horst Seehofer
Horst_Seehofer
German
President
Frank Walter Steinmeier
Frank-Walter_Steinmeier
German
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
Bild
Bild Harry_Bild
news agencies
Reuters
Reuters Reuters_Group Thomson_Reuters Paul_Reuter Reuter
DPA
Deutsche_Presse-Agentur Democratic_Party_of_Albanians DPA_Microphones Doctor_of_Public_Administration Democratic_Party_of_Albania Democratic_Party_of_Artsakh United_Nations_Department_of_Political_Affairs Drug_Policy_Alliance Democratic_Progressive_Alliance National_data_protection_authority Defence_Procurement_Agency Dayton_Agreement DPA Docosapentaenoic_acid 9,10-Diphenylanthracene Hexanitrodiphenylamine
Friday
AnotherMerkel
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
Schulz
Schulz Nico_Schulz Christian_Schulz Hans-Ulrich_Schulz Johann_Abraham_Peter_Schulz Damian_Schulz Martin_Schulz Dick_Schulz Heinrich_E._M._Schulz Jan_Schulz Friedrich_Schulz Erwin_Schulz Thorsten_Schulz Stephan_Schulzer_von_Müggenburg Frank_Schulz_(footballer,_born_1961) Michael_Schulz
Merkel
Angela_Merkel Merkel,_Texas Max_Merkel Merkel_(firearms_manufacturer) Alexander_Merkel Merkel_nerve_ending Flying_Merkel Pierre_Merkel Merkel_(surname) Fred_Merkel Ron_Merkel Germany
Thursday
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
Schulz
Schulz Nico_Schulz Christian_Schulz Hans-Ulrich_Schulz Johann_Abraham_Peter_Schulz Damian_Schulz Martin_Schulz Dick_Schulz Heinrich_E._M._Schulz Jan_Schulz Friedrich_Schulz Erwin_Schulz Thorsten_Schulz Stephan_Schulzer_von_Müggenburg Frank_Schulz_(footballer,_born_1961) Michael_Schulz
Friday
SPD
Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Freedom_and_Direct_Democracy Shepshed_Dynamo_F.C. Social_Democratic_Party Semen_Padang_F.C. Scottish_Football_League_Premier_Division Social_Democratic_Party_in_the_GDR St_Patrick's_College,_Dublin Serial_presence_detect S.P.D._(song) 1992–93_Scottish_Premier_Division 1987–88_Scottish_Premier_Division 1986–87_Scottish_Premier_Division Power_Rangers_S.P.D. SPD_Bavaria Norwegian_speciedaler
Schulz
Schulz Nico_Schulz Christian_Schulz Hans-Ulrich_Schulz Johann_Abraham_Peter_Schulz Damian_Schulz Martin_Schulz Dick_Schulz Heinrich_E._M._Schulz Jan_Schulz Friedrich_Schulz Erwin_Schulz Thorsten_Schulz Stephan_Schulzer_von_Müggenburg Frank_Schulz_(footballer,_born_1961) Michael_Schulz
CDU
Christian_Democratic_Union_of_Germany Unitary_Democratic_Coalition Christian_Democratic_Union_(East_Germany) United_Christian_Democrats C.D._Universidade_Agostinho_Neto_(basketball) CDU/CSU Christian_Democratic_Union_(Netherlands) List_of_Christian_democratic_parties CDU_Baden-Württemberg Christian_Democracy_(Italy) Charles_Darwin_University Christian_democracy
chief executive
Klaus Schüler
SPD
Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Freedom_and_Direct_Democracy Shepshed_Dynamo_F.C. Social_Democratic_Party Semen_Padang_F.C. Scottish_Football_League_Premier_Division Social_Democratic_Party_in_the_GDR St_Patrick's_College,_Dublin Serial_presence_detect S.P.D._(song) 1992–93_Scottish_Premier_Division 1987–88_Scottish_Premier_Division 1986–87_Scottish_Premier_Division Power_Rangers_S.P.D. SPD_Bavaria Norwegian_speciedaler
Social Democrats
Swedish_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Denmark) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Social_democracy Social_Democrats_(Slovenia) Czech_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Ireland) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland Social_Democrats Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria Social_Democrats_of_Montenegro Social_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Social_Democratic_Party_(Romania) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Lithuania Romanian_Social_Democratic_Party_(1927–48) Social_Democratic_Party_(UK)
SPD
Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Freedom_and_Direct_Democracy Shepshed_Dynamo_F.C. Social_Democratic_Party Semen_Padang_F.C. Scottish_Football_League_Premier_Division Social_Democratic_Party_in_the_GDR St_Patrick's_College,_Dublin Serial_presence_detect S.P.D._(song) 1992–93_Scottish_Premier_Division 1987–88_Scottish_Premier_Division 1986–87_Scottish_Premier_Division Power_Rangers_S.P.D. SPD_Bavaria Norwegian_speciedaler
Schulz
Schulz Nico_Schulz Christian_Schulz Hans-Ulrich_Schulz Johann_Abraham_Peter_Schulz Damian_Schulz Martin_Schulz Dick_Schulz Heinrich_E._M._Schulz Jan_Schulz Friedrich_Schulz Erwin_Schulz Thorsten_Schulz Stephan_Schulzer_von_Müggenburg Frank_Schulz_(footballer,_born_1961) Michael_Schulz
Social Democrats
Swedish_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Denmark) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Social_democracy Social_Democrats_(Slovenia) Czech_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Ireland) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland Social_Democrats Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria Social_Democrats_of_Montenegro Social_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Social_Democratic_Party_(Romania) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Lithuania Romanian_Social_Democratic_Party_(1927–48) Social_Democratic_Party_(UK)
Merkel
Angela_Merkel Merkel,_Texas Max_Merkel Merkel_(firearms_manufacturer) Alexander_Merkel Merkel_nerve_ending Flying_Merkel Pierre_Merkel Merkel_(surname) Fred_Merkel Ron_Merkel Germany
Social Democrats
Swedish_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Denmark) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Social_democracy Social_Democrats_(Slovenia) Czech_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Ireland) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland Social_Democrats Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria Social_Democrats_of_Montenegro Social_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Social_Democratic_Party_(Romania) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Lithuania Romanian_Social_Democratic_Party_(1927–48) Social_Democratic_Party_(UK)
SPD
Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Freedom_and_Direct_Democracy Shepshed_Dynamo_F.C. Social_Democratic_Party Semen_Padang_F.C. Scottish_Football_League_Premier_Division Social_Democratic_Party_in_the_GDR St_Patrick's_College,_Dublin Serial_presence_detect S.P.D._(song) 1992–93_Scottish_Premier_Division 1987–88_Scottish_Premier_Division 1986–87_Scottish_Premier_Division Power_Rangers_S.P.D. SPD_Bavaria Norwegian_speciedaler
September 24
Social Democrats
Swedish_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Denmark) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Social_democracy Social_Democrats_(Slovenia) Czech_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Ireland) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland Social_Democrats Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria Social_Democrats_of_Montenegro Social_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Social_Democratic_Party_(Romania) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Lithuania Romanian_Social_Democratic_Party_(1927–48) Social_Democratic_Party_(UK)
Schulz
Schulz Nico_Schulz Christian_Schulz Hans-Ulrich_Schulz Johann_Abraham_Peter_Schulz Damian_Schulz Martin_Schulz Dick_Schulz Heinrich_E._M._Schulz Jan_Schulz Friedrich_Schulz Erwin_Schulz Thorsten_Schulz Stephan_Schulzer_von_Müggenburg Frank_Schulz_(footballer,_born_1961) Michael_Schulz
German
Social Democrats
Swedish_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Denmark) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Social_democracy Social_Democrats_(Slovenia) Czech_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Ireland) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland Social_Democrats Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria Social_Democrats_of_Montenegro Social_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Social_Democratic_Party_(Romania) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Lithuania Romanian_Social_Democratic_Party_(1927–48) Social_Democratic_Party_(UK)
Germany
Germany Germany_national_football_team Nazi_Germany German_Empire Germany_women's_national_football_team Weimar_Republic German_Football_Association ISU_Junior_Grand_Prix_in_Germany GfK_Entertainment_Charts Germany_national_youth_football_team A1_Team_Germany Germany_national_rugby_union_team Kingdom_of_Germany German_literature Germany_men's_national_ice_hockey_team Same-sex_marriage_in_Germany
SPD
Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Freedom_and_Direct_Democracy Shepshed_Dynamo_F.C. Social_Democratic_Party Semen_Padang_F.C. Scottish_Football_League_Premier_Division Social_Democratic_Party_in_the_GDR St_Patrick's_College,_Dublin Serial_presence_detect S.P.D._(song) 1992–93_Scottish_Premier_Division 1987–88_Scottish_Premier_Division 1986–87_Scottish_Premier_Division Power_Rangers_S.P.D. SPD_Bavaria Norwegian_speciedaler
Jusos
Young_Socialists_in_the_SPD
Steinmeier
Frank-Walter_Steinmeier
SPD
Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Freedom_and_Direct_Democracy Shepshed_Dynamo_F.C. Social_Democratic_Party Semen_Padang_F.C. Scottish_Football_League_Premier_Division Social_Democratic_Party_in_the_GDR St_Patrick's_College,_Dublin Serial_presence_detect S.P.D._(song) 1992–93_Scottish_Premier_Division 1987–88_Scottish_Premier_Division 1986–87_Scottish_Premier_Division Power_Rangers_S.P.D. SPD_Bavaria Norwegian_speciedaler
Schulz
Schulz Nico_Schulz Christian_Schulz Hans-Ulrich_Schulz Johann_Abraham_Peter_Schulz Damian_Schulz Martin_Schulz Dick_Schulz Heinrich_E._M._Schulz Jan_Schulz Friedrich_Schulz Erwin_Schulz Thorsten_Schulz Stephan_Schulzer_von_Müggenburg Frank_Schulz_(footballer,_born_1961) Michael_Schulz
SPD
Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Freedom_and_Direct_Democracy Shepshed_Dynamo_F.C. Social_Democratic_Party Semen_Padang_F.C. Scottish_Football_League_Premier_Division Social_Democratic_Party_in_the_GDR St_Patrick's_College,_Dublin Serial_presence_detect S.P.D._(song) 1992–93_Scottish_Premier_Division 1987–88_Scottish_Premier_Division 1986–87_Scottish_Premier_Division Power_Rangers_S.P.D. SPD_Bavaria Norwegian_speciedaler
Social Democrats
Swedish_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Denmark) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Social_democracy Social_Democrats_(Slovenia) Czech_Social_Democratic_Party Social_Democrats_(Ireland) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Finland Social_Democrats Social_Democratic_Party_of_Austria Social_Democrats_of_Montenegro Social_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Social_Democratic_Party_(Romania) Social_Democratic_Party_of_Lithuania Romanian_Social_Democratic_Party_(1927–48) Social_Democratic_Party_(UK)
December 7 to 9
Berlin
Berlin Humboldt_University_of_Berlin Berlin_(band) German_Open_(WTA) Berlin,_New_Hampshire Berlin_Hauptbahnhof Olympiastadion_(Berlin) Berlin,_Connecticut Berlin_International_Film_Festival Berlin,_Maryland Berlin_(Lou_Reed_album) Berlin,_New_Jersey Berlin,_Massachusetts Berlin,_Wisconsin East_Berlin Battle_of_Berlin
German
Free Democrats
Free_Democratic_Party_(Germany) Free_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Free_Democrats_(Norway) Free_Democrats_(Georgia) Free_Democrats_(Armenia) Free_Democrats_(Italy) Party_for_the_Open_Society Alliance_of_Free_Democrats
FDP
FDP.The_Liberals Free_Democratic_Party_of_Switzerland Free_Democratic_Party_(Germany) Sons_of_Divine_Providence Flexor_digitorum_profundus_muscle Popular_Democratic_Front_(Italy) Liberal_Democratic_Party_of_Germany Fresh_Democratic_Party Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany
Greens
Australian_Greens Alliance_90/The_Greens Greens_New_South_Wales Australian_Greens_Victoria Tasmanian_Greens Greens_Western_Australia Green_Party_of_Aotearoa_New_Zealand Green_Party_of_England_and_Wales Leaf_vegetable Green_politics Federation_of_the_Greens ACT_Greens The_Greens_–_The_Green_Alternative Queensland_Greens Greens_South_Australia Green_League
Germany
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Free Democrats
Free_Democratic_Party_(Germany)
iptc::11000000 topic::politics type::entity type::organization type::party
Martin Schulz
Martin_Schulz
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Social Democratic Party
Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany
iptc::11000000 slot::keyword topic::politics type::entity type::organization type::party
Angela Merkel
Angela_Merkel
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Germany
Germany
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Frank Walter Steinmeier
Frank-Walter_Steinmeier
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German
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Berlin
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Friday
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Bavarian
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conservative leader
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Horst Seehofer
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President
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Bild
Bild
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news agencies
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Reuters
Reuters
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DPA
Deutsche_Presse-Agentur
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AnotherMerkel
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Thursday
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CDU
Christian_Democratic_Union_of_Germany
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chief executive
topic::none type::role type::value
Klaus Schüler
wikidata:Q1679452
gender::male iptc::11000000 topic::politics type::entity type::person type::politician
September 24
topic::none type::time type::value
Jusos
Young_Socialists_in_the_SPD
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December 7 to 9
topic::none type::time type::value
Greens
Alliance_90/The_Greens
iptc::11000000 topic::politics type::entity type::organization type::party
Bavaria