Merkel Faces Coalition Talks After Victory in German Elections
Conservative bloc didn't clinch a majority
Chancellor Angela Merkel's triumphant conservative party is considering who to team up with to form a new German coalition after their election victory.
Her conservative bloc got 41.5%—their best result since 1994, but just short of a clear majority.
The election was a shock for their liberal partners, the Free Democrats (FDP), who failed to get any seats.
A coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) is seen as most likely—but only after hard bargaining.
Mrs Merkel told a news conference on Monday that she had already contacted the SPD chairman, Sigmar Gabriel.
