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German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, leaves after a statement prior to exploratory talks about a new German government between her Christian Unions block and the Social Democratic Party at the SPD headquarters in Berlin, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- Markus Schreiber
Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman Martin Schulz, left, briefs the media prior to exploratory talks about a new German government between German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Unions block and his party at the SPD headquarters in Berlin, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- Markus Schreiber
Social Democratic Party, SPD, chairman Martin Schulz arrives for a statement prior to exploratory talks about a new German government between German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Unions block and his party at the SPD headquarters in Berlin, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- Markus Schreiber
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, arrives for exploratory talks about a new German government between her Christian Unions block and the Social Democratic Party at the SPD headquarters in Berlin, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- Markus Schreiber
Journalists queue outside the Social Democrats party headquarters when waiting for statements after the exploratory talks between Merkel's Christian Democratic block and the Social Democrats on forming a new German government in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- Markus Schreiber
From right, German Interior Minister and delegate of the German Christian Democratic Party (CDU) Thomas de Maiziere, the governor of the German state of Hesse, Volker Bouffier, and Ralf Stegner, deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) talk at the SPD headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 during final exploratory talks on a new German government between the Christian Unions block and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
- Michael Sohn
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is flanked by Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer, left, and Social Democratic Party Chairman Martin Schulz after the exploratory talks between Merkel's conservative bloc and the Social Democrats on forming a new German government in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- Markus Schreiber
German Chancellor Angela Merke, left, and Social Democratic Party Chairman Martin Schulz, right arrives for a news conference after the exploratory talks between Merkel's Christian Democratic block and the Social Democrats on forming a new German government in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- Markus Schreiber
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is flanked by Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer, left, and Social Democratic Party Chairman Martin Schulz during a joint statement after the exploratory talks between Merkel's conservative bloc and the Social Democrats on forming a new German government in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
- Markus Schreiber
German leaders express confidence on forming new government
- By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER and GEIR MOULSON Associated Press
- Updated