05/03/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Sunday 4 March, the German Social Democrat party (SPD) approved the coalition contract signed with the Christian Democrats (CDU-CSU) by 66.02%, advocating new momentum for Europe (see EUROPE 11956). This is the third time a grand coalition of this type has been set up under the authority of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, after the 2005-2009 and 2013-2017 periods. The CDU-CSU (246 members of parliament) and SPD (153 members of parliament) will have a majority to govern in the Bundestag, but it will be weaker (53.5%, including 33% for the CDU-CSU) than in 2013 (67.2%) and in 2005 (69.4%). Strongly challenged within his party for having finally accepted the formation of a new coalition, the former president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, will not enter the government and has been forced to quit as head of the SPD. (MB)