Two-thirds of Social Democrats back coalition deal with Angela Merkel

Members of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) voted in favour of a coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives on Sunday, opening the way to a new government for Europe's largest economy.

Two-thirds of the membership backed the deal, a party official said -- a wider margin than many had expected -- ending more than five months of political uncertainty after an inconclusive election.

The result is set to hand long-serving chancellor Merkel a fourth term in office at a time when the European Union is looking to its largest country for leadership on a host of economic and security issues.

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