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Diminished Merkel casts around for new coalition
Greens and liberal FDP sought as allies as far-right AfD takes shock third place
GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel sought a new coalition with the Greens and free-market liberal FDP yesterday after losing ground to the right in Sunday’s election.
Ms Merkel’s centre-right CDU slumped to 33 per cent of the vote from 41.5 per cent in 2013. Her Social Democratic Party (SPD) “grand coalition” allies hit a post-war low of 20.5 per cent, down from 25.7, and immediately ruled out returning to government with the CDU.
The gains were picked up by the FDP and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) — a racist, Eurosceptic party with a large fascist wing.
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