‘Grand coalition’ prospect as Merkel polls lead narrows

CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel’s lead in the polls is narrowing days before an election, suggesting she may be forced into another “grand coalition” that may struggle to lift Germany out of a deep downturn.

Merkel wants to avoid a re-run of the right-left partnership with the Social Democrats (SPD) that has ruled Germany for the past four years, arguing that it would be less stable and could fail to agree on the policies Europe’s largest economy needs.

Instead, she wants to team up with the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) in a centre-right coalition that would pursue tax relief and rein in the role of the state.