Merkel welcomes SDP vote for coalition deal

Berlin March 5 (IANS) German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday vowed to ensure that her new Cabinet will work for the citizens of Germany providing the country with a strong voice in Europe and standing alongside France when facing global challenges such as international trade.

At a press conference here Merkel extended her congratulations to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for its internal ballot in which members backed a third edition of the "grand coalition" between her conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) the CDU s Bavarian partner the Christian Social Union and the SDP.

"I welcome the result of the SDP s membership vote " Merkel said. "I believe this constitutes a very very good foundation for a joint government work."

With the German Parliament likely voting her fourth term as Chancellor on March 14 Merkel said that "we need Europe we need a strong German voice" to work along with France and other European partners to face issues like the Syrian war China s competitive challenge or the new guidelines on international trade Efe news reported.

Without explicitly mentioning US President Donald Trump s plans of slapping trade tariffs on US s steel and aluminium imports Merkel said that many jobs in Germany depended on Europe s response underscoring the need to have a Cabinet ready to act soon.

Merkel said it was important for the German Cabinet to begin working as early as possible on implementing the coalition s basic policy agreements which were tantamount to "a book full of mandates and tasks".

Six months after the election she added the citizens had the right to a government which is why it was important for it to start working "in a matter of days".

The future Cabinet ministers Merkel warned had a great task ahead of them: to develop the projects focused on future jobs preserving the welfare state and providing equal living conditions in Germany.

--IANS
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