SPD: Merkel Can Be Next Chancellor

Germany’s Social Democrats have agreed to conservative candidate Angela Merkel becoming the next chancellor, the BBC reported Monday.

The German news agency DPA and the ZDF television network reported the agreement between the two parties, without giving further details.

Both Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of the SPD and Merkel, who represented a coalition of the Christian Democrats with the Christian Social Union, had claimed victory in the Sept. 18 election.

Further coalition talks between the two parties were scheduled to be held Monday to resolve the post-election political deadlock. The two parties already have held three rounds of exploratory talks.

Monday’s agreement may be only the start of a lengthy negotiation on the details of future government policy, the BBC reported.