Merkel's party in talks with Social Democrats on forming coalition

BERLIN, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Germany's Social Democratic Party said it has scheduled talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats to discuss the possibility of a coalition.

Merkel's party took 41.5 percent of the vote in the Sept. 22 elections, but needs to form an alliance with either the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which took 26 percent, or the Greens, which took 8.4 percent, to ensure a majority in parliament, the BBC reported.

SPD Chairman Sigmar Gabriel said the party agreed during a meeting to form a coalition with Merkel's party.

Merkel has not yet said which parties she plans to reach out to for a possible coalition.