Schröder gives up German chancellorship ambitions, makes way for Merkel
{{date|October 10, 2005}}
{{Germanelection2005}}
<div style="float:left;width:132px;">
  [[Image:Gerhardschroeder01.jpg|left|thumb|110px|Gerhard Schröder]]
  </div> 
[[w:Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democrat]] [[w:Gerhard Schröder|Gerhard Schröder]] has given up his ambition to be [[w:chancellor|chancellor]] in a future government and cleared the way for the current opposition leader, [[w:Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democrat]] [[w:Angela Merkel|Angela Merkel]], to become the first female chancellor in the history of [[w:Germany|Germany]], officials for both parties confirmed.

Both Schröder and Merkel previously insisted that they become head of government, making chancellorship the all deciding issue whether to form a coalition. Now Schröder is reportedly resigning from politics, but while he may not be in the next government, his withdrawal comes at a high price for the Christian Democrats ([[w:Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]/[[w:Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]]). 

The Social Democrats (SPD) will take eight minister posts, against six for the CDU/CSU. But who will occupy these posts has yet to be determined. Beside various rumors in [[w:Berlin|Berlin]], it has only been confirmed so far that the current [[w:Bavaria|Bavarian]] governor [[w:Edmund Stoiber|Edmund Stoiber]] will take over as minister for economy and technology. The agreement, negotiated between Schröder, Merkel, Stoiber, and SPD chair [[w:Franz Müntefering|Franz Müntefering]], has already been approved by both parties' leadership committees.

Official negotiations for all the details of the future coalition are scheduled to begin next Monday and are expected to last until at least November 12.

The early federal election on September 18 produced an effective stalemate as both CDU/CSU and the SPD got approximately the same votes, with CDU/CSU having a narrow lead of 4 seats in the [[w:Bundestag|Bundestag]]. Neither party was able to form a coalition with their preferred partner, [[w:Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]] and the [[w:Alliance '90/The Greens|Greens]], respectively, forcing them to enter talks to form a grand coalition.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4325600.stm 
|title=Merkel 'to be German chancellor'
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=October 10, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.tagesschau.de/aktuell/meldungen/0,1185,OID4835542_NAV_REF1,00.html
|title=K-Frage geklärt: Merkel soll's sein
|author=
|pub=ARD
|date=October 10, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://de.news.yahoo.com/051010/286/4px89.html
|title=Merkel soll Bundeskanzlerin werden 
|author=
|pub=AFP
|date=October 10, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,378953,00.html
|title=Merkel soll Kanzlerin werden
|author=
|pub=Der Spiegel
|date=October 10, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/10/10/germany.talks/index.html
|title=Merkel to become German chancellor
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=October 10, 2005}}

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[[Category:Germany]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Angela Merkel]]

[[de:Spitzen von Union und SPD beschließen große Koalition unter Kanzlerin Merkel]]
[[es:Angela Merkel será la primera Canciller de Alemania]]
[[fr:Allemagne : Angela Merkel sera la première femme à occuper la chancellerie]]
[[nl:Angela Merkel wordt Duits bondskanselier]]
[[ja:独連立政権交渉、メルケルCDU党首の首相就任で合意]]
[[pt:Angela Merkel escolhida para ser Primeira-Ministra da Alemanha]]
Gerhard Schröder
   
Social Democrat Gerhard Schröder has given up his ambition to be chancellor in a future government and cleared the way for the current opposition leader, Christian Democrat Angela Merkel, to become the first female chancellor in the history of Germany, officials for both parties confirmed.

Both Schröder and Merkel previously insisted that they become head of government, making chancellorship the all deciding issue whether to form a coalition. Now Schröder is reportedly resigning from politics, but while he may not be in the next government, his withdrawal comes at a high price for the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU). 

The Social Democrats (SPD) will take eight minister posts, against six for the CDU/CSU. But who will occupy these posts has yet to be determined. Beside various rumors in Berlin, it has only been confirmed so far that the current Bavarian governor Edmund Stoiber will take over as minister for economy and technology. The agreement, negotiated between Schröder, Merkel, Stoiber, and SPD chair Franz Müntefering, has already been approved by both parties' leadership committees.

Official negotiations for all the details of the future coalition are scheduled to begin next Monday and are expected to last until at least November 12.

The early federal election on September 18 produced an effective stalemate as both CDU/CSU and the SPD got approximately the same votes, with CDU/CSU having a narrow lead of 4 seats in the Bundestag. Neither party was able to form a coalition with their preferred partner, FDP and the Greens, respectively, forcing them to enter talks to form a grand coalition.

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de:Spitzen von Union und SPD beschließen große Koalition unter Kanzlerin Merkel
es:Angela Merkel será la primera Canciller de Alemania
fr:Allemagne : Angela Merkel sera la première femme à occuper la chancellerie
nl:Angela Merkel wordt Duits bondskanselier
ja:独連立政権交渉、メルケルCDU党首の首相就任で合意
Angela Merkel escolhida para ser Primeira-Ministra da Alemanha
Germany Europe Politics and conflicts Angela Merkel