German SPD votes for gov't coalition with Merkel's Union

BERLIN -?Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) voted for a government coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Conservative Union, a party official said Sunday.

Over 66 percent of ballots voted for "yes," Dietmar Nietan, head of the SPD Mandate and Counting Commission, announced at the press conference at the SPD Headquarters.

Members of Germany's opposition Social Democratic party have voted in favor of forming a grand coalition government, clearing the last major hurdle for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's fourth term.

The result ended the five-month-long political stalemate after the Sept. 24 Federal Parliament elections.

Merkel is poised to be elected as the new chancellor in March 14 plenary session of the Bundestag, the Federal Parliament.

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