SPD agrees with coalition with Merkel

The German Social Democratic SPD can continue with Angela Merkel.

The road is now free for Chancellor Merkel to take the oath as Head of Government after the longest formation period in Germany, on 12 or 13 March in the Bundestag. It then becomes her fourth cabinet.

The approximately 464,000 SPD members were able to hand in their ballot papers until Saturday about any government participation. About 120 volunteers have counted the votes in the SPD headquarters in Berlin, the Willy Brandt House, until Sunday morning.