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A8 world news
Tuesday 16 January 2018
German center-left party battles over new Merkel coalition

By GEIR MOULSON not reflected in last week’s
Associated Press agreement, for instance an
BERLIN (AP) — Supporters overhaul of the health-in-
and opponents of a new surance system, while “we
alliance with Chancellor had to swallow very bitter
Angela Merkel sought Mon- pills.” He cited a pledge in
day to win over members the agreement to keep a
of Germany’s main center- lid on the number of asy-
left party who will decide lum-seekers entering Ger-
this weekend whether to many and curb the num-
negotiate a new governing ber of relatives allowed to
coalition. join migrants already there.
Merkel’s conservative Sunday’s congress isn’t the
Union bloc and leaders of final hurdle. If a coalition
the center-left Social Dem- agreement is reached, it
ocrats last week reached would be put to a ballot of
a preliminary deal to open the Social Democrats’ full
formal coalition negotia- membership for approval.
tions. If the new coalition doesn’t
That needs approval from come together, the only
a party congress Sunday remaining options would
of the Social Democrats, be an unprecedented mi-
many of whose members nority government led by
are deeply skeptical after Merkel’s conservatives or a
a disastrous election result German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, shakes hand with Social Democratic Party Chairman new election.
in September. Martin Schulz during a joint statement after the exploratory talks between Merkel’s Christian Schulz and Andrea Nahles,
The two sides have gov- Democratic block and the Social Democrats on forming a new German government in Berlin, the party’s parliamentary
erned Germany together Germany. leader, were hitting the
for the past four years, but (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) road Monday to campaign
Social Democrat leader had achieved “outstand- holes in the deal. carrying on as usual in a for coalition talks to pro-
Martin Schulz said until No- ing results” in initial talks A new “grand coalition” of ‘grand coalition’ would ceed.
vember that his party would with the conservatives. But Germany’s biggest parties endanger the existence Nahles highlighted a com-
go into opposition follow- efforts to persuade mem- faces vehement opposition of the Social Democrats, mitment to guarantee the
ing the election results. He bers started badly over the from the Social Democrats’ at least as a major party,” current level of pensions
reversed course reluctantly weekend, with a small re- youth wing, which argues Kevin Kuehnert, the youth through 2025, among other
after Merkel’s negotiations gional party branch com- that serving as Merkel’s ju- wing’s leader, told foreign things. She told Deutsch-
with two smaller parties col- ing out against a new co- nior partner again could reporters in Berlin. landfunk radio she’s opti-
lapsed. alition and some prominent erode support even further. Kuehnert complained that mistic about winning over a
Schulz said Friday his party Social Democrats picking “We are convinced that “many central aims” were majority of members.q

Greeks face more pain, protests as bailout nears end

By DEREK GATOPOULOS countries and International
NICHOLAS PAPHITIS Monetary Fund. The coun-
Associated Press try has depended on emer-
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — gency loans since 2010 af-
Greek lawmakers, eying ter it lost the ability to raise
the end of eight years of money on international
bailout programs, ap- bond markets.
proved more austerity Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
measures late Monday, as said approval of the pro-
strikes and mass protests posed measures will bring
brought much of Athens to Greece “just one step from
a standstill. the end of the bailout.”
Protesters in Athens sprayed “In the summer, we will ...
police with red paint out- leave behind a tough, un-
side parliament as some fair and harmful period,” he
20,000 people marched in said.
anti-government rallies in Labor unions strongly op-
the capital and Greece’s pose the provisions on
second largest city, Thes- strikes, which require a
saloniki. higher turnout for local lev-
During the vote on the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks at the parliament before the vote of new batch reforms, el unions to be able to de-
including measures that would make it harder for labor unions to call strikes, in Athens, on Monday,
more than 1,500-page bill, Jan. 15, 2018. Athenians are without public transport for the day and services nationwide face cide on industrial action.
police engaged in brief but disruptions as Greek labor unions strike to protest further creditor-demanded measures due to be Strikes shut down all public
intense clashes with rock- voted in Parliament. transport in the Greek capi-
throwing demonstrators (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) tal Monday, while state-run
and used pepper spray to by 154-141 votes include They were demanded by but has promised lenders schools and public hospi-
disperse them. tougher conditions for lenders for Greece to re- at least two more years of tals also faced disruptions
No arrests or injuries were unions to call strikes, speed- ceive further bailout funds. austerity as it seeks more as teachers and doctors
reported. ier property foreclosures, Greece formally ends its generous repayment terms participated in work stop-
The reforms approved and cuts in family benefits. bailout program in August on its loans from eurozone pages. Dozens of flights