German Parties Closer To Forming Governing Coalition

Election was held on Sept. 22

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc and the center-left Social Democratic Party she defeated in last month's election have moved a decisive step closer to forming a new government.

The German news agency dpa quoted SPD chief Sigmar Gabriel on Thursday as saying the leadership of the party would recommend to members this weekend that it enter into formal coalition talks with Merkel's Union bloc.