The SPD votes yes / Germany unveils new Merkel government

It was announced on the 14 December 2013 that members of Germany's Social Democratic Party gave their approval in a referendum to a grand coalition with Angela Merkel's conservative CDU. More than three-quarters said yes - paving the way for the new government to start working.

As a result of the vote, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was set to start her third term on the 17 December 2013 after the Bundestag voted on her new cabinet.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel accepted on 9 January 2014 the appointment of a pro-Moscow veteran as special coordinator for Russia policy, a concession made to her coalition partner. Questions have emerged in the EU on Germany's new Russia policy.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: ‘Grand coalition’ deal sealed in Germany http://www.europeansources.info/record/grand-coalition-deal-sealed-in-germany/

Euronews, 14.12.13: Germany: SPD votes ‘yes’ to coalition with Merkel http://www.euronews.com/2013/12/14/germany-spd-votes-yes-to-coalition-with-merkel/

BBC News, 14.12.13: Germany: Social Democrats back 'grand coalition' with Merkel http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25382122

EUObserver, 16.12.13: Germany unveils new Merkel government http://euobserver.com/political/122474

EurActiv, 16.12.13: German SPD backs 'grand coalition' government with Merkel http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/german-spd-backs-grand-coalition-news-532365

Deutsche Welle, 15.12.13: Merkel announces cabinet posts in grand coalition http://dw.de/p/1Aa5q

Deutsche Welle, 16.12.13: Wolfgang Schäuble: the 'other chancellor' http://dw.de/p/1Aa5w

Deutsche Welle, 16.12.13: Thomas de Maiziere: A look at 'Merkel's best man' http://dw.de/p/18nhp

Blog: The Economist: Charlemagne, 14.12.13: Germany's grand coalition. The GroKo is here http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2013/12/germanys-grand-coalition

Berliner Zeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Der Spiegel, Frankfurter Rundschau, 16.12.13: Merkel III now in working order (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/4408981-merkel-iii-now-working-order

Euro|Topics, 16.12.13: Germany gets a grand coalition http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/aeltere/NEWSLETTER-2013-12-16-Germany-gets-a-grand-coalition

Blog,: CER: 16.12.13: What Germany's new coalition government means for the EU http://centreforeuropeanreform.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/what-germanys-new-coalition-government.html

EurActiv, 18.12.13: France praises new German coalition as ‘growth-oriented’ http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/france-praises-new-german-coalit-news-532413

EUObserver, 10.01.14: Merkel caves in on Russia appointment http://euobserver.com/foreign/122680

EUObserver, 15.01.14: Questions emerge on Germany's new Russia policy http://euobserver.com/foreign/122724

Deutsche Welle, 16.01.14: Berlin's new voice in dialogue with Moscow http://dw.de/p/1Ar7p

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