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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 21 November 2017

Germany faces uncertainty after coalition talks break down

By GEIR MOULSON Steinmeier appealed to
DAVID RISING political leaders to rethink
Associated Press their positions and try again
BERLIN (AP) — Germany, to form a new government.
Europe’s largest economy “We now face a situation
and anchor of stability, that we haven’t had in the
is facing the prospect of history of the Federal Re-
months of political uncer- public of Germany, so in
tainty after Chancellor nearly 70 years,” Steinmeier
Angela Merkel’s conserva- told reporters after meeting
tives were unable to form Merkel. It is Steinmeier who
a coalition with two smaller will have to decide wheth-
parties, raising the likeli- er to pave the way for a mi-
hood of new elections. nority government or call a
Merkel said Monday that new election.
she was “very skepti- “This is the moment at
cal” about trying to forge which all parties should
ahead with a minority gov- pause and reconsider their
ernment — a setup that position,” he said. “I expect
has never been tried in from everyone readiness to
post-World War II Germany talk, in order to make the
— after talks with the left- formation of a government
leaning Greens and pro- possible in the foreseeable
business Free Democrats future.”
broke down hours earlier. Merkel spent four weeks
Her current coalition part- haggling with the Free German Chancellor and Chairwomen of the German Christian Democratic Party (CDU), Angela
ner, the center-left Social Democrats and the Greens Merkel, right, and the chairman of the German Christian Social Union state group, Alexander
Democrat party, has re- on a new, untried govern- Dobrindt, center, arrive for a faction meeting at the German Federal Parliament, Bundestag, in the
mained adamant it will ing coalition until the Free Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 20, 2017.
go into opposition after a Democrats walked out (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
disastrous result in Septem- Sunday night. for a repeat, even without leaders of all the parties in- solved. If neither the Free
ber’s election. Martin Schulz, the leader of Merkel in charge, and that volved in the failed talks, as Democrats nor the Social
Even if it comes to new her current coalition part- a minority government “is well as others, in the com- Democrats budge, that
elections, a poll Monday ner, the Social Democrats, not practicable in Germa- ing days. leaves as the only options
for the broadcaster RTL reiterated Monday that his ny.” It’s likely to be months another election or a mi-
indicated little change party was “not available” Steinmeier said he will meet before the situation is re- nority government.q
in support for the various
parties, suggesting there
would be similarly difficult Lawyer: Mladic may not be fit to hear verdicts
prospects in forming a co-
alition.
Immediately after the talks By MIKE CORDER Bosnia’s 1992-95 war. in a marathon trial that be- something you can do in six
broke down just before Associated Press Mladic’s attorneys have gan back in 2011. months or one year.” Mlad-
midnight Sunday, Merkel THE HAGUE, Netherlands filed a flurry of recent mo- Tribunal Chief Prosecutor ic’s trial is the last to end at
pledged she would do ev- (AP) — A lawyer for Gen. tions to have the ailing Serge Brammertz defend- the ground-breaking tribu-
erything possible to ensure Ratko Mladic said Monday 75-year-old’s health as- ed the length of the indict- nal before it closes down
Germany would continue it is not certain the former sessed before the Inter- ment and trial, saying that by the end of the year. The
to be well led. Later she Bosnian Serb military com- national Criminal Tribunal international prosecutions court last year convicted
said that while the situation mander will show up in a for the former Yugoslavia are interested in more than his political master, former
was regrettable, “we nev- United Nations courtroom announces its decisions just getting a quick convic- Bosnian Serb President Ra-
ertheless have stability in when judges deliver their Wednesday. tion. “We also want to show dovan Karadzic, on near-
our country.” verdicts in his long-running He faced 11 counts of in a public trial the magni- identical charges and sen-
Her comments came af- trial for allegedly master- genocide, crimes against tude of the crimes com- tenced him to 40 years.
ter President Frank-Walter minding atrocities during humanity and war crimes, mitted,” he said. “This is not Karadzic has appealed. q