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Deadlock Ends? Two Thirds of German Social Democrats Back Coalition – Poll

© AP Photo / Michael SohnGerman flags wave in front of the Reichstag building, host of the German Federal Parliament Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany. (File)
German flags wave in front of the Reichstag building, host of the German Federal Parliament Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany. (File) - Sputnik International
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Two in three members of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) want it to form a coalition government with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, a poll out Friday revealed.

The survey by Kantar Emnid for the Funke media group found that 66 percent of SPD members wanted another grand coalition between the two largest parties, while 30 percent preferred a snap election.

The SPD and the CDU/CSU bloc made an agreement on February 7 after months of talks. The pact needs the support of all SPD members, who will vote on it in a postal ballot starting next week. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that her CDU/CSU alliance finally completed the negotiations on forming a coalition government with the social democrats.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks on during a session at the Bundestag lower house of Parliament, on November 21, 2017 in Berlin. - Sputnik International
Merkel Tries to Drag Germany Out of Political Deadlock - Coalition Deal
The Emnid poll found that 78 percent of Merkel’s conservatives want to work together with Socialists and 17 percent oppose the deal. The coalition’s appeal among the general public is weaker, with only 49 percent backing it and 42 percent favoring a new election.

The parties agreed earlier on a draft coalition deal, which has been approved by CSU and is due to be voted on by the congresses of the CDU and SPD.

According to the draft agreement, the SPD received ministerial portfolios in the Foreign, Finance, Justice, Labor and Environment Ministries, as well as of the Ministry for Family Affairs. The party will also nominate the vice chancellor. In turn, the CDU has obtained five ministerial portfolios, including the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, as well as the Defense Ministry.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Germany's Social Democratic Party SPD leader Martin Schulz talk during a session of the German lower house of Parliament, Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, February 1, 2018 - Sputnik International
German SPD Leader Schulz Leaves the Party and Merkel's Coalition Deal in Crisis
The previous German government was also formed by the so-called grand coalition comprising the CDU/CSU and SPD, following the federal election of 2013.

During the Merkel-led coalition's last term, its "open-door policy" for migrants prompted criticism from those claiming that the security situation in the country had worsened due to the inflow of migrants.

The coalition was also criticized for lack of tax reform, with German rates being the second highest to Belgium when it comes to developed countries worldwide.

Following the formation of the new coalition government, Angela Merkel will assume the office of chancellor for her fourth term.

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