In Germany, Merkel Will Seek a New Coalition

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, were the clear winners in terms of voter support in the Sept. 22 parliamentary elections. Merkel is highly likely to keep her position for a third term, but the establishment of a government coalition will be complicated. Merkel's favored coalition partner within the new parliament, the Social Democratic Party, first must decide internally whether it wants to try to lead a fragile center-left coalition or be Merkel's junior partner. The Social Democrats' position should be clearer next week after an internal party congress. Whatever coalition emerges, it will have to find a way to cope with rising euroskepticism within Germany and continuing economic difficulties throughout the eurozone.