Germany's Merkel says open to all coalition options

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she is open to all possible coalition options after elections on Sept. 24, except a partnership with a far-right or a far-left party.

In an interview with Phoenix television on Monday, the conservative leader signaled her Christian Democratic bloc (CDU/CSU) might not try another coalition with its current partner Social Democratic Party (SPD), but instead seek a partnership with liberals or environmentalists.

"Here, there is no natural coalition, rather at first, each party would fight for becoming strong enough itself,” Merkel said.

She did not name a preferred coalition partner, but immediately ruled out any partnership with the socialist Left Party (Die Linke) and the far-right, Alternative for Germany, or the AfD.

“We will not enter a coalition with Die Linke and not with the AfD, all other options one will see,” she said.

The latests polls show Merkel’s conservative CDU/CSU bloc is well ahead of its main rival SPD, but failing to gain enough seats at the parliament to form a government alone.

The research institute Emnid’s poll released on Saturday put support for the CDU/CSU at 38 percent, while the SPD was polled at 24 percent.

The liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), which had been a traditional coalition partner for the Christian Democrats in the past, was estimated to receive 8 percent support, above the national 5-percent electoral threshold.

The environmentalist Green Party, which backed Merkel’s open door policy for refugees, was polled at 7 percent.

According to the poll, the socialist Left Party was estimated to get 10 percent, and the far-right populist AfD was polled at around 8 percent.