Merkel to be chancellor after deal with SPD
By Hugh Williamson in Berlin and Bertrand Benoit in Frankfurt
Published: October 8 2005 03:00 | Last updated: October 8 2005 03:00
The Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel is set to replace Gerhard Schröder as Germany's next chancellor, in a political deal that will see the departure of Mr Schröder from the political stage, senior members of the ruling Social Democrats have told the Financial Times.
Ms Merkel's expected victory in the battle for the chancellorship is likely to be announced on Monday, following a meeting tomorrow evening in Berlin between Mr Schröder and Ms Merkel. The two leaders met on Thursday evening for four hours to agree the framework of a SPD-CDU grand coalition, but refused yesterday to disclose details. The talks also included the SPD leader Franz Müntefering, and Edmund Stoiber, Bavarian premier.
Officials close to Mr Schröder said he would not become vice chancellor and foreign minister in the coalition, in spite of pressure from within the SPD for him do so. "The chancellor has done what was necessary, to ensure the SPD is on an equal footing with the CDU in the coalition," one official said.
source
Sorry, I kinda lost track of this, what is the size of the CDP/CSP plurality?
