Feb 7, 2018

Merkel's party reaches tentative coalition deal

Photo: Carsten Koall / Getty Images

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Christian Democratic Union agreed to a coalition deal with the center-left Social Democrats after a marathon negotiating session, per The Washington Post. After reaching agreement on disparate issues like health care, housing costs, and broadband access, the deal has one final hurdle: it must be approved by the Social Democrats' members next month.

Why it matters: The deal has the potential to end months of political gridlock in Germany and finally allow Merkel to form a government later next month following last September's federal elections. But should the Social Democrats' members reject the deal, it could throw the country into political chaos under a CDU minority government — potentially hastening the end of Merkel's career.

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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

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