"I am optimistic and determined that we should achieve a result and I think we are capable of doing that in the foreseeable future," the chancellor said ahead of the beginning of the negotiations.
Merkel added that the parties to the talks would try to lead the negotiations fast. According to the chancellor, "a very good foundation for what we now want to achieve at the coalition negotiations" was built during the preliminary talks.
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The new talks will mark the second time Merkel's alliance has attempted to form a coalition government. The first attempt to hammer out a deal with the Green party and the Free Democratic Party fell through in November.
The talks follow the election that was held in late September, and CDU/CSU has been working on the formation of the government ever since.