Merkel focused on grand coalition with Social Democrats
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}German Chancellor Angela Merkel says her conservative bloc is embarking on exploratory talks with the Social Democrats with the goal of forming a so-called "grand coalition," despite the center-left party saying it would also consider other options.
Merkel told reporters Monday after meeting with her party's leadership that anything other than a grand coalition would be considered a failure of the preliminary talks.
Merkel's conservatives and the Social Democrats have governed Germany together since 2013 in a grand coalition. The Social Democrats ruled out another after performing poorly in September's election, but reluctantly reconsidered after Merkel's talks with two smaller parties collapsed.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Still, party leader Martin Schulz has left options open, saying exploratory talks will also consider the possibility of a looser arrangement, like possibly supporting a Merkel-led minority government.