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Weakened Merkel scrambles to form coalition government

All sides will in the coming weeks have to hammer out tough compromises on thorny topics from immigration to EU reform and climate policy

Published Wed, Oct 18, 2017 · 09:50 PM

Germany

Berlin

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel, weakened by poor election results, will seek to forge an unlikely governing coalition from a motley crew of parties that span the political spectrum.

Mrs Merkel's conservatives, who won a Sept 24 vote without a clear majority, will hold exploratory talks with the liberal and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) and then the left-leaning and environmentalist Greens.