Merkel points to SPD’s Scholz for the far-left coalition option

BERLIN, Aug 31 (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose Conservatives have been left behind in polls for an election to replace her later this month, on Tuesday pointed to the Social Democrat candidate for the refusal to rule out a coalition with the far left.

After 16 years in power, Merkel’s Conservatives are facing defeat, with a poll this week showing the center-left SPD five points ahead. An independent instant poll showed that the SPD candidate for chancellery, Olaf Scholz, defeated other candidates in a televised debate on Sunday.

Polls suggest Scholz could have several possible paths to form a coalition. However, when he was pressured during Sunday’s debate, Scholz did not categorically rule out forming a coalition with the far-left party Linke. Conservatives say this would mean a big pull on the German centrist current.

“With me as chancellor there would never be any coalition in which the Linke is involved, and whether this (position) is shared by Olaf Scholz or not, remains open,” Merkel said at a joint press conference with the Austrian chancellor. Sebastian Kurz.

“In this context, there is a huge difference for Germany’s future between him and me,” de Scholz added.

Merkel, in power since 2005, plans to retire after the election. His Conservative candidate for chancellor, Armin Laschet, has failed to capture the imagination of voters.

Report by Paul Carrel Edited by Thomas Escritt and Peter Graff

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