German parties look to Social Democrats to lead next government

Christian Lindner, leader of the Free Democrats who finished fourth in the September election (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP)

The two parties that emerged as the likely kingmakers from Germany’s election last month said they would hold talks about a possible new government under the leadership of the centre-left Social Democrats.

The negotiations, if ultimately successful, would send outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right Union bloc into opposition after 16 years at the helm of Europe’s biggest economy.