German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened a third and decisive round of exploratory talks in Berlin on Thursday on forging a coalition with the main opposition Social Democrats (SPD).
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The SPD was playing hard-to-get ahead of the meeting, pressing Ms Merkel’s conservative camp to offer a sweetener to the left: a legally mandated minimum hourly wage that would boost the incomes of many Germans in low-skills jobs.
If they find enough common ground, leaders of the SPD and Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian-based Christian Social Union (CSU) ally are expected to recommend to their parties that they launch formal negotiations to form a so-called grand coalition.
The meeting with Ms Merkel is the last scheduled one before SPD leaders consult with their own supporters on Sunday.
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Commentators said there would be pressure to finalize the outline of a deal within the four hours scheduled for the talks, since Ms Merkel had an evening appointment with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council.