BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Despite winning the German parliamentary election, the ruling conservative coalition has finished just short of an absolute majority, leaving it with the difficult task of seeking the support of the Opposition Social Democrats for a grand coalition.
The conservative bloc led by Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) won 41.8 percent of votes in Sunday's election to the Bundestag, Lower House of the German Parliament. It was their strongest performance since 1990, but the world's most powerful lady politician now faces the unsavory prospect of having to court her leftist arch-rivals -- the main Opposition, the Social Democrats (SPD) -- to rule the biggest European economy for a historic third term.
Interestingly, Merkel has had an alliance with the SPD during 2005-2009, her first term in office.
Addressing supporters at the CDU headquarters, an elated Merkel said, 'This is a super result. We will do everything together in the next four years to make them successful years for Germany.' But she admitted the difficulty in compromising on policy matters when asked on television whether she planned to reach out to other parties to form a coalition government.
Merkel is opposed to SPD's demand for a minimum wage and higher taxes on the wealthy. However, a government inclusive of SPD will give the leftists influence on German foreign and economic policies.
Reports say the result is a ringing endorsement of the 59-year-old Chancellor's steady leadership during the Eurozone crisis, and her victory reflected in the financial markets with the strengthening of the euro.
Although Social Democrats leader Peer Steinbruck had earlier ruled out any coalition with the CDU, he had stressed the importance of democratic parties joining forces.
Refusing to speculate on government formation, Steinbruck said, 'We did not achieve the result we wanted. The ball is in Merkel's court. She has to get herself a majority.'
A meeting of the SPD party leadership on Friday is crucial. Several weeks of difficult negotiations are in sight for Merkel, reports say.
It was the poor showing by her junior coalition partner - the Free Democrats - that put Merkel in a tight corner. With only 4.8 percent, short of the five percent threshold required to win any seats, the party will have no national representation in Parliament for the first time in Germany's post-war history.
The Social Democrat's Green allies have won 8.4 percent, while the hardline Left Party secured an 8.6 percent vote share. Nonetheless, the center-left parties insist they would not join with the Left Party to form an alliance.
Only two leaders have ruled Germany for a third term in the post war era -- Helmut Kohl and Konrad Adenauer. The German election this time was considered a very significant one, due mainly to the country's dominant position in the Eurozone and a victory for Merkel will definitely make her position stronger as one of the most powerful and influential leaders in world arena.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy congratulated Merkel on the German election results. In a message, he said he is 'confident that Germany and its new government will continue its commitment and contribution to the construction of a peaceful and prosperous Europe at the service of all its citizens.'
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX