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World

Merkel seeks her party's support for new German coalition, points to continuity on Europe

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    German Chancellor and chairwoman of the German Christian Democratic Party, Angela Merkel arrives for a party's meeting about a coalition agreement with the German Social Democrats in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Dec. 9, 2013. At left is the party's Secretary General Hermann Groehe. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

  • 5d03a031-Germany New Government
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    German Chancellor and chairwoman of the German Christian Democratic Party, Angela Merkel smiles as she arrives for a party's meeting about a coalition agreement with the German Social Democrats in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Dec. 9, 2013. At left is the party's Secretary General Hermann Groehe. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

  • 361dbd17-Germany New Government
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    German Chancellor and chairwoman of the German Christian Democratic Party, Angela Merkel, speaks during a party's meeting about a coalition agreement with the German Social Democrats in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Dec. 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) (The Associated Press)

BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel is seeking her conservative party's support for a new German government alliance with its center-left rivals and pointing to continuity in Berlin's hard-nosed approach to Europe's debt crisis.

Merkel's Christian Democrats emerged the strongest force from September elections but fell short of a majority, and their previous, pro-business coalition partners were voted out of parliament. Merkel then negotiated with the center-left Social Democrats to form a "grand coalition" of Germany's biggest parties.

Merkel appealed to a party conference Monday to back the resulting agreement, which features some center-left demands such as a national minimum wage and making it easier for some people to retire early.

The Social Democrats are putting the deal to a ballot of their entire 470,000-strong membership. The result is expected this weekend.