mostly journalists in the room but there were also certainly hundreds of social democrat members and the reaction was utter silence as if somebody had just announced i don't know the the but something so it's simply weird it's a very it was a very odd moment and what can i say you germany delivered as expected the grassroots of the social democrats delivered to their party leadership all right thanks well if you're just tuning in we're bringing you now special coverage of an announcement that paves the way as we've been saying for forming a new german government the social democrats voted yes to teaming up once again with anglicans conservatives to former new so-called grand coalition two thirds of the s.p.d. members voted in favor of this coalition deal hammered out by their party leaders and by americans conservatives the chancellor herself can likely brought breathe a sigh of relief here more than five months after the election this uncertainty is finally over the new government we heard from michele oh there could be in place in less than two weeks time and yelled and simon comin

in a moment but this is not just about the social democrats all of germany's holding its breath this morning perhaps even all of the european union waiting to see whether almost half a year after elections europe's largest economy will finally have a stable government if it's a yes from the s.p.d. rank and file that is likely to happen if they vote no germany and europe could be in for a rough ride senior political editor michelle a coup for her has more. a tense calm hangs over berlin's government district. germany is waiting to learn whether the social democrat party base will agree to another ground coalition with anglo-american in the chancellor. if b.s.p. dean says yes this weekend could simply pass without any grave consequences to germany's political set up but if it says no this has the potential to send the country into political freefall and along with it german chancellor angela merkel. macko has certainly done her bit to avoid that outcome she convinced her c.d.u. party to back the coalition despite the feeling that she gave away too many key ministries to save for a seco

merkel played her part in diminishing the social democrat core value base into simply becoming a junior partner in a coalition that keeps being led by a german chancellor angela merkel so this is a question of of heart over head if they voted with their hearts were more likely to see a negative outcome here but most broadly expect certainly the entire party leadership who signed under that plea really to their party base to give them this yes vote they are hopeful they're optimistic that this one will pass without that political quake that would otherwise certainly unfold here this sunday we have been hearing michelle a lot of confident voices coming from the s.p.d. head of the result that we are still waiting for how far away are we from hearing that result. well we are minutes away but i can't tell you how many minutes we're expecting a slight delay there what i can certainly tell you is that we don't expect the three quarter plus majority in favor that we saw in two thousand and thirteen when the social democrats decided to go into that past coalition and there's an expectation that

democrats grassroots vote and it really was the grassroots of the social democrats who had the final say on this and who then came out actually two thirds in favor of continuing what was in the past considered to be a political marriage not just without love but really left the system across so bruised and battered in this process having said that this is certainly sparing the the fates that we've seen with other similar social democratic parties in europe most prominent in france where they've almost been wiped out at the ballot box and that could've gotten worse for the social democrats but also for other parties if there had been fresh elections initially you mentioned the right wing populist alternative for germany party entering the parliament for the first time after september's elections with ninety two seats how did they observe the proceedings today seeing chancellor merkel being confirmed once again as chancellor. well really they see this as something that they will fight against that role really that we saw from alexander garland on election night where he said we will. s

democrat party basically failed to see anything ground for the social democrats in this so if anything they're doing this as a sense of responsibility or a fear of what the unknown would bring to the social democrats potentially even worse figures than we're seeing in the polling right now they got twenty point five percent in those past elections already a long fall down but the polling that we've seen since it was all the way down to sixteen percent i mean let's just remind ourselves they would be a power even below the center for germany the far right party and parliament for the first time and they would become yet another victim of increased fragmentation now under the analysis of parliamentary party leader she is expected to fix it she's the person everybody's putting their hopes on right now but she also has to be very careful because. her potential predecessor i mean she's not elected into that position of party leader yet but martin sauls got one hundred percent from his own party that was a long fast full within the space of twelve months to then actually have to resign over

democrats she was pointing out how the social democrats are different from the christian democrats how are they different at this point if they're going to work in coalition to achieve what they've laid down in their agreement and i have to come back to what i said earlier that they're going to try and square the circle it is going to be tremendously difficult but you know they now will have decided it was a two thirds majority of the policy that said ok we'll do it again well so some sense of responsibility will govern the country and yet at the same time will have to find a way of saving our own profile again of making it closer voters why should they even vote for the social democrats and this is going to be a tremendously difficult task i mean they're going to try and bring in new people who bring in some experience from working on the ground who bring with them some sort of a local street credibility of like to know that even like fences got gif i who is a difficult part of a berlin from an exactly and from a difficult area where she has a lot of experience working with migrants a

is facing right now very much like many of the social democratic parties across your. but what was even worse for germany social democrats was that for two of michael's coalition governments they've served with the. conservatives and that's really had a bad effect on their profile now merkel moved her conservatives very much to the center and by doing so she was able to poach a lot of the s.p.d. proposals so you saw the s.p.d. the social democrats doing a lot of the legwork but not really profiting from it so right now a lot of party members of the s.p.d. party members are saying let's stand back and give ourselves time to renew and redefine our profile as a social democratic party well we wait to see what they'll decide on sunday kate brady thank you for joining us. another european nation italy is actually heading to the polls tomorrow in an unpredictable election where migration has been the biggest issue now the vote pits a right wing coalition led by former prime minister silvio berlusconi against a center left alliance led by another former prime minister materia

this is d.l.p. a news line from berlin germany social democrats decide whether to team up once again with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives ahead of today's vote count the party leaders have said they're optimistic members will approve the deal so will germany finally get a new government or could this be the start of a political crisis also coming up. it's being called a bombs like on a mammoth winter storm pummeled the u.s. east coast at least five people have been killed the fierce weather has knocked out power in more than a million homes. and also coming up on the program oscar fever ramps up ahead of tomorrow's the cademy awards the first three spare a moment for the film that didn't make the cut the golden raspberry awards or rather these honor the best of the worst and hollywood. and welcome to the program now five months ago after elections here in germany the wait for a new government could finally be over members of the center left social democrats have voted on whether or not to enter a new rand coalition with anglo american conservatives and the result will be ann

democrats and very much the center of power now in the social democratic party. to her. let me see right is for a counter he remains the parliamentary party leader of. chancellor merkel's christian democrats a man of huge experience and a lot of influence those two hundred dollars and folk account of will need to strike up a very close partnership one of the key relationships in the next government because they will be securing parliamentary majority as for all the legislation that goes through and to the left of andrea now this. alexander door brint he is the new sector general of the c.s.u. the christian social union in bavaria so then now signing the coalition agreements once they are done we'll have the party leaders stepping up to the podium that will of course be ungrammatical. in the interim. social democrat leader all of schultz and. hosts the hoof of the c.s.u. with varian conservatives they will be stepping up to the podium in just a second. so you have the three legs of the party executive signing this coalition government agreement. and as we saw. we

this is news live from berlin months of political deadlock are over in germany the social democrats have voted to join a coalition government led by chancellor. over five months after the country's elections this paves the way for a new government we'll talk about the implications for germany and europe also ahead italy votes in an election whose outcome is anything but certain things are expected for n.t.'s down bushman's and right wing parties with migration and the economy among the campaign issues. and having been welcome to the program the wait for a german government is over germany's social democrats have voted yes to joining forces yet again with chancellor conservatives a majority of party members voted in favor of the deal to join a coalition government with the christian democrats and their bavarian sister party german president. praised the breakthrough just a short while ago. this is it is simply good for our country that this phase of uncertainty and insecurity is over and that the three parties are prepared to take on the responsibility of governing. nieman and that respon

he says his father's afraid to give the social democrats a new orientation. >> whatever social democracy is, that's where i want to see this society go. that's our concept of humanity, that's our idea of co-existence, that's our vision of solidarity and social justice. >> but in the weeks to come, the social democrats will first have to focus on keeping the party together -- on everyone closing ranks and staying in line. one member sums up the spd's situation. >> regrettable, but we have ourselves to blame. >> but could a grand coalition itself perhaps help the party get back on its feet? spd deputy chairman ralf stegner believes that in the end, the rank and file will play along. >> i think a majority of the members will say yes, if we can convince them. we'll have to make good use of the next few weeks. i'll try to do my part. >> his son and many other young social democrats are not convinced. and they'd like a bigger say in running the party in the future. >> i want to see a stronger push moving forward -- not just the string quartet, but some heavy metal, too, on the political stage.

apartheid sixty centrist social democratic party did not take this decision lightly in the past few weeks they discussed the results of the coalition agreement openly and transparently these were important and exciting debates in which many members of the s.p.d. actively participated or at least. the results of the members vote is not exactly cause for showing off s.p.d. leaders know that many in the party have struggled with this decision fearing that the s.p.d. will be completely sidelined in another grand coalition as p.d.u. swing boss kevin coonerty back in the spotlight he became the figurehead of the resistance against a grand coalition and despite his disappointment says the son of the democratic vote and of course we accept this result we are not sore losers and will try to make the best of it. can dispense to. out of the germans feel many are just happy to see a government take shape. and if they can push through everything they're planning gladly otherwise we will lections what good would that have done us now live on its past if it was good for the s.p.d. in the long run

the social democrats i think that the the potential fighting is just really coming to a head on who will be going into those ministries but we did learn that they will have three men and three women going into i'm going to michael's cabinet so we might actually see a fifty fifty male female cabinet here in germany that's went. well it is now official the social democrats will enter this next german government with a chance america and we're just listening to mr they're looking at the numbers simon and you know there were around three hundred sixty eight thousand votes that were valid from party members around two hundred thirty nine nine thousand voted yes it was around one hundred twenty three thousand who voted against what are your reactions from those numbers and also what we saw this complete lack of reaction of applause of any sort of reaction yet i don't know what that was about i suppose people just kind of many of them been up all night of course involved in this counting process and higher this morning. but yet as has been said you know this is. an unexpectedly clear vote in fa

news live from berlin germany a social democrats decide whether to team up once again with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives with hundreds of thousands of ballots now being counted actually leaders are optimistic that members will approve the deal so when germany finally get a new government could this be the start of a political crisis also coming up. it's been called a bombsite clone a mammoth winter storm batters the u.s. east coast at least five people have been killed the fierce weather has knocked out power to more than a million homes. welcome to the program five months after the elections here in germany the wait for a new government could finally be over now members of the center left social democrats have voted on whether or not to enter a new grand coalition with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives the last batch of completed ballots have now arrived at the s.p.d. headquarters of almost half a million party members who are eligible to vote and the results will be announced on sunday. political correspondent kate brady is here with me in studio for more on this t

the social democrats the far right alternative for germany the a.f.d. came in just shy of thirteen percent they are now the largest opposition party in the parliament now these are not alarming numbers until you see what the italians did in their national election yesterday the far right parties earned a whopping thirty seven percent of the vote the anti-establishment five star movement received more votes than any other party are we about to see a far right party take power in europe my colleague a org spoke with italian political scientist professor giovanni or seen. all eyes on the five star movement of luigi di maggio could he form a coalition with the far right of material salvini because if you look at the money festivals they have quite a bit in common. that might be the case i'm not saying it is impossible but i don't think it is likely because it would be politically not clever and not wise for selena to enter a coalition as a junior partner with the five star movement salvini has been one of the winners of this election and would like evil try

i mean all of these social democrats in germany. are they can do the damndest to a future of becoming insignificant where they all realize now in this profile crisis a social democrat says being facing for quite a few months now and the paseo the party leadership has promised that that will be a part of renewal and that will be where the integrity of the party survival over the next next legislative term and so. that will mean obviously the s.p.d. the social democrats really moving away from the center ground and a second question with regards to the f.d.a. you know is the far right party the biggest opposition in parliament of course now that exactly now that the social democrats have joined this grand coalition the leading opposition as well and this is a largely a symbolic role but it does come with some perks for this for the f.d.a. so now they'll be able to hold long speeches in the german parliament and they'll also be able to respond first to speeches given by chancellor merkel if she's appointed chancellor in just a couple o

democrat. parliamentary party he's from lower saxony and he's currently the deputy head of germany's parliament but will official tomorrow. now be on word more names being leaked on specially because obviously officially we present new ministers tomorrow who else could be an interesting new face in the new cabinet yes indeed in fact we might see that renewal and that representative from the east that is so missing according to many critics on a magical side of the cabinet cabinet of course with herself being the only east german that the christian democrats pointed where we could well see francisco gifty she's from east germany she's actually the mayor of noid cohen here in berlin it which is an area with a high level of migrants second third generation germans actually living here in berlin she is tipped to become the new family minister so that would certainly be quite an interesting appointment that we're expecting to see heikal moss' currently justice minister to remain in the cabinet for i

the social democrats would take the center. she managed that, "position on the right, -- opened up that position on the right. out the ifqueeze the. he might manage although he himself i think is a bit of a know.eight person, you sort of a twitter personality. it could go, but it could go in different directions. look at great and jeremy corbyn. with all left-wing populist .essage challenging theresa may look at what might be happening in the united states with the democrats now. advocating universal health care and things which, you know, a decade ago in america would have been rabid socialism. it's on both sides of the political divide that people are ramping up the populist message. peter: geraldine, where does emmanuel macron fit into all of this? the battle against right-wing populism? what can we learn from him? is thene: actually, he big winner also because of the electoral system in france, which allows it. in germany, it would not be possible because of the electoral system. the second is also his ruling in his quiet a

news line from berlin germany social democrats decide whether to team up once again with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives with hundreds of thousands of ballots now being counted party leaders are optimistic that members will accrue the deal so will germany finally get a government or could this be the start of a political crisis also coming up. a star studded rally for the russian president over one hundred thousand turnout in moscow to cheer on vladimir putin is hoping to close to an election victory in two weeks' time. and the bundesliga show follows after the news takes you to see the best of the action and all of saturday school. i'm edith kimani welcome to the program five months after the elections here in germany the wait for a new government could finally be over members of the center left social democrats have voted on whether or not to enter a new grand coalition with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives party leaders won hands this evening as volunteers started processing the ballots almost half a million do you thing s.p.d. members were eligible to vote the results

this is the news live from berlin germany is social democrats decide whether to team up once again with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives with hundreds of thousands of ballots now being counted on two leaders are optimistic that members who approve the deal so will germany finally get a new government or could this be the start of a political crisis also coming up. a star studded rally for the russian president over one hundred thousand turned out in moscow to cheer on flatter me a putin is hoping to close to an election victory in two weeks' time. and the bigger show follows after the news the big game of the day sought doctrine travel to rb like six in the battle for the champions league places stage you just see the best of the action on all of saturday's gold. i'm glad you could join us five months after the elections here in germany the wait for a new government could finally be over members of the center left social democrats have voted on whether or not to enter a new grand coalition with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives the last batch of completes of ballots have

relief was germany and months police called deadlock the country of the social democrats vote to join a governing coalition with chancellor merkel's conservatives it paves the way for a new government and a fourth term in office for angela merkel to find out what it means for germany plus. they're rolling out the red carpet for the film in the series biggest night as a star descend on hollywood for the academy awards with a preview of the films and actors hoping for oscar very this evening. i'm edith kimani welcome to the program vote counting is under way in its cities parliamentary election after a tight race initial exit poll suggests the right wing alliance led by silvio berlusconi will be the largest bloc in parliament however it's fallen short of the absolute majority needed to govern the anti establishment five star movement which is. largest single pot to the wrong thirty percent of the vote thirty one year old who had to do my own has capitalized on public anger corruption and economic woes the ruling center left coalition trails in said. and joining us now from rome is our c

that the that the christian democrats would be would be marginalized the social democrats would take the center she managed that opened up a position on the right and the spawn for instance would move the christian democrats back to the right trying to squeeze out the f.t. he might manage though he himself i think is a bit of a lightweight person you know sort of a twitter personality rather than what but anyway it's that that's where it could go but it can go in different directions brooke a great britain look at germany called in with the left wing populist message challenging the reason may and look at what might be happening united states where the democrats now you know advocating universal health care and things which you know a decade ago in america would have been rabid socialism so you know it's on both sides of the political divide that people are ramping up the populous message early in what is what does it matter what fifteen tool this left right the battle against popular or right wing populism what can we learn from him well i mean actually he was his the big winner als

at the social democrats headquarters there's only one topic on everyone's minds the s.p.d. members vote the future of germany's next government now lies with this p.d. on saturday evening a truck when they arrive here carrying what must surely be germany's most important mayor delivery hundreds of thousands of on says to the question should the social democrats join a coalition with america's conservatives they will be counted here overnight with the results of the current fall from clear. germans have been patient for weeks exploratory talks coalition negotiations party congress has for some the suspense is now reaching its climax for others they've had enough and just wanted to be over . each other through the hope that the s.p.d.m. yes we'll have to wait and see if they had to make avenged i wish they'd have hurried up and finished all this soon but it is like it is this is the muzzle him. i don't care they have to figure it out amongst themselves the more i assume their votes yes oh i don't so find it x. iting to see what happens if they don't agree i wouldn't worry too

in germany members of the social democrats have voted in favor of joining a new grand coalition led by ag of america two thirds voted yes which is higher than expected it means the country will finally have a new government more than five months after elections. italians are voting to choose their next government after a divisive election campaign the vote pits the same to left alliance led by former prime minister matthew ransey against a right wing coalition led by another former prime minister silvio berlusconi atop the site of it's from a women's group protested as he cast his vote shouting time's up barely scotti and you've expired. in poland at least four people have been killed and dozens more injured after an apartment building collapsed in the western city of poe's none teams of firefighters and raced yours with dogs have been combing through the debris of the four story block authorities are still investigating what caused the collapse. thousands of marched in barcelona calling for a fictional province in catalonia to break away from the region and remain part of spain the pr

news of lines from barely a sign of relief as germany and nearly a half year of political deadlock the social democrats voted to join a coalition government more than five months after the country's elections this behaves the way for a new government led by chance that i'm going to machel to find out what it all means for germany and europe also coming up. it's a new vote in an election whose outcome is anything but certain polls show a surge in support for silvio berlusconi center right broke as well as the anti-establishment five star movement migration to be commie are among the key campaign issues. i'm welcome to the program at long last the wait for a new german government is over and that's because the social democrats have voted yes to joining a coalition yet again with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives the vote is a huge relief for makyo who will soon be sworn in for a fourth term as chancellor but for the center left social democrats getting to this point has brought talking tunnel divisions that may prove difficult to heal. a nightmare for s.p.d. party leaders didn't come to

she could have a way that the social democrats will make so it will be more of an embrace of his ideas for a year up for bringing your closer together to strengthen the year of the euro as a currency although there's still a ruling out of euro bonds not always as opposed to the key issue that domestically it will make a big change their huge investment programs that really have the hallmarks of the social democrats particular when it comes to education and infrastructure infrastructure but we can expect some very lively debates to put it mildly in this new so-called grand coalition of conservatives on the social democrats and michele that just because you mentioned you know what exactly is in this coalition agreement give our viewers an idea of what happens now i mean this was a huge moment we were all waiting for.

so no surprise then that on the night of that defeat of the elections then social democrats. the former head of the european parliament came forward and said never again he got a lot of juice for that that's certainly how the party base felt that's really the heart of the party's base saying we don't want this bruising relationship with the conservatives particularly. now they're being asked after a brief phase of divorce say to once again join this political marriage of convenience is almost a wrong word almost a forced marriage to.

news live from berlin germany social democrats decide whether to team up once again with chancellor angela merkel's conservative ahead of today's vote count party leaders have said they're optimistic members will approve the deal so will germany finally get a new government or could this be the start of a political crisis also coming up. time's up for italy's election campaigners political parties have made their final appeals to voters to cast their ballots tomorrow but with no clear front runner who'll italians choose to navigate their country's turbulent political landscape. and it's being called a bomb cycle on the winter storm pummeling the eastern united states at least five people have been killed as rain snow and hurricane force winds battered the country's east coast the fierce weather has knocked out power and more than a million homes. and welcome to the program five months after elections here in germany the wait for a new government could finally be over members of the center left social democrats have voted on whether or not to enter a new grand coalition of anglo americans c

mrs result, the social democrats suffered a similar fate. mrs merkel tried but failed to secure a coalition agreement with two other parties, her preferred option, and finally after a long chronic process she managed to get a coalition agreement with herformer she managed to get a coalition agreement with her former partner is the social democrats but before that could go ahead the spd membership had the final say so it has been in everything we can for mrs merkel as 400,000 spd members went to a postal ballot to deliver their verdict on whether they wanted to go back into coalition. it has been a painful topic for the spd and there has been a lot of opposition to the idea of working with mrs merkel again. many social democrats blame for years of her shadow for their terrible election showing in september, any still believe that this coalition could destroy the party. it has been a difficult time. finally this morning it was announced in the last hour that two thirds of spd membership voted in favour of that coalitions were germany has its g

social democrats suffered a similarfate. election result. social democrats suffered a similar fate. mrs merkel tried but failed to secure a coalition agreement with two other parties. that was their preferred option. finally after a very long and drawn—out process, she managed to get her coalition agreement with herformer partner to get her coalition agreement with her former partner is the social democrats. before that could go ahead, the spd membership at the final say. it has been a pretty nerve—racking weekend for mrs merkel, as 400,000 spd members went toa merkel, as 400,000 spd members went to a postal ballot to deliver their verdict on whether they wanted to go back into coalition. it has been a very painful topic for the spd. there has been a lot of opposition to the idea of working with mrs merkel again. many social democrats blame four years in her shadow for the terrible election showing back in september. many still believe that this coalition could destroy the party. it has been a very difficult time. finally this morning it was announced in the last hour that two t

cain is there at the minute by what sort of margin did the social democrats agree to join mrs merkel in what's known as a grand coalition. martin in a pretty clear margin two thirds to one third the party members have voted what you might say decisively in favor of another grand coalition with angle americal and the point to make is that there isn't really a sense of jubilation amongst the the rank and file or indeed amongst the the leadership here of the social democrats hearing with the prime minister of the minister president of the state of hamburg so he's not got his hands in the air he's not overjoyed at this result this is because this is basically a decision of the head that the social democrats have made rather than the hearts of the people who in conferences up and down the country over the past few months have been saying they don't want another coalition with angela merkel was saying that they feel that being in government with her party is costing this party votes they feel that they have to try to renew their their mission their party's mission but at the moment at leas

is if the democrats to tie up the social democratic party struggled with this decision we would having opened we were very transparent and we debated at length the results of the coalition agreement is good shit i completely understand skepticism there are good reasons for it but it's good that the s.p.d. has shown it came brace democracy that sets us apart from other parties. and i believe one thing in the rest. we're an anchor of stability for europe as well as. we begin the day with one of those rare moments when politics and hollywood merge on stage in real time at nine o'clock this morning here in berlin much of the media from germany and europe had gathered here in berlin the headquarters of the social democrats now the anticipation in the room was palpable new government the fate of the chancellor the future of the european union so much was riding on a yes or no question that had been posed to all members of the social democrats here in germany and just as it will be at the oscars tonight so it was in berlin this morning a person appeared on stage opened the envelope and said a

and obviously within the social democrats themselves. so center of problem for the grand coalition is nothing the opposition road played by the if team the bundestag it is the weakness social democratic party s there are only two thirds of those who voted for the brain coalition among the members of the democratic party really are in a lukewarm support of this grand coalition one third of the party has expressed clear disdain for these coalition and these are the democratic party is torn between the party functionaries and party elites who are in favor of more migration of multicultural society in favor of this grand coalition and those ordinary members of the social democratic party of those would be a responsibility on the level of local politics who really feel that we have had too much immigration of the past of the who are a change of german domestic policies but what we are going to face is a right to a christian social the minister of the interior who wants to decrease immigration into germany and a left wing minister of justice w

in months of political deadlock and in germany the social democrats vote to join a coalition government led by chant blackall america all over five months after germany's election this paves the way for a new government we'll talk about the implications for germany and europe also ahead. italy votes in an election whose outcome in anything but certain gains are expected for an anti is doubtless meant and why it wing parties with migration and the economy among the key issues. and they're getting ready to roll out the red carpet for the film industry biggest night as the stars descend on hollywood for the academy awards we preview the contenders hoping for oscar glory. and welcome to the program the wait for a german government is over and that's because the social democrats have voted yes to joining forces yet again with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives two thirds of s.p.d. members voted in favor of the coalition deal hammered out by their party leaders and merkel's christian democrats this gives the chancellor another term in office her fourth and a new government is expected t

basically it's about the people represented by the social democrats and who have an interest in social democracy. and they've suffered in particular from the global economic developments of the last thirty years. there are no easy answers to this situation. indeed the s.p.d. is in search of new answers and is now making a fresh start with some new faces in the third grand coalition do they also represent new policies. primarily they represent the policies as agreed on in the coalition deal but i certainly think they can bring in new ideas and impetus the big question is whether and to what extent the s.p.d. can meet expectations on tackling issues about the future. and there are crucial points everywhere. and i'm very pleased with our new foreign minister. he's already made it clear to president french that germany wants to be accommodating to france and work together with france and other european countries that's a big step. you mentioned the new foreign minister he was the minister of justice in the previous government so not such a new face. do you see fresh impetus from the new mi

social issues and development are especially important the social democrats struggled for a long time with the question of their participation in a new grand coalition. future. grand coalition in germany did not start out as a marriage for love. of a city with the c.d.u. c.s.u. and. although they are and will remain fundamentally different parties. are still able to work constructively together and govern properly. the third coalition partner the bavarian c.s.u. calls this a grand coalition for the common people. i will mention only the key words job security with the promise of full employment basic pension maternal pension stabilization of pension levels. the opposition parties describe the coalition agreement in negative terms protesting the future government's program. that but there are major gaps in this coalition agreement especially when it comes to future challenges above all climate protection. does not feature prominently in this coalition agreement. i'm going to says merkel has once again been able to use money as a lubricant to build up. a coalition that refuses to set th

his party the social democrats. thanks for watching. we'll have an update on your headlines coming up at the top of the hour. that. information. for us. facebook and twitter are up to date.

month of political uncertainty and in germany the social democrats vote to renew the coalition giving angela merkel a fourth term as chancellor. and instagram we meet the seventy five year old social media star from south korea. it's all hands are voting in national elections which could reshape the country's political scene no single party is expected to win the forty percent needed to form a majority government the anti establishment five star movement is expected to lead the votes but has already vowed not to go into coalition with any of its rivals well we'll be live in rome in just a moment but first a look at how voting is going so far with lawrence lee. as the time arrives for voters to make their minds up there was every sign there were as many people who simply couldn't decide as those with any sort of conviction the policy making much of the running is the and see politician party it's thirty one year old leader held several parts i'm jobes before even entering politics five stars inside a proposal is to create a citizens' block in opposition to the corrupt excesses of the p