BERLIN – Pressure is growing within Germany's Social Democratic Party to at least discuss the possibility of forming a new government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives.
SPD leader Martin Schulz has ruled out returning to the "grand coalition" with Merkel, following a disastrous result in September's election, even after her talks on forming a government with two other parties collapsed.
If no one budges, the options are a minority government — never previously tried — or new elections.
Schulz is meeting Thursday with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who has urged politicians to compromise.
Several Social Democrats, while expressing skepticism, have suggested the party should discuss another coalition with Merkel or supporting a minority government.
Lawmaker Karl Lauterbach tells ZDF broadcaster "if absolutely nothing else works, we must again consider a grand coalition."
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