chancellor merkel: chancellor, you were saying that protection is not the right answer. can that multilateral be strengthened? >> what we see in the european union and the many of you that look at the outside, perhaps it is a cultural shock to see 27 or 28 members, it is multilateralism. we have this in germany as well. and every time we have to find a compromise with them. it seems to be much faster. and immediately, a national response by others. the chairman communication is broken. i think it is well worth our while to act to have a patient with that interaction. >> if one looks at the known members from overseas, i think there is always a concern with regard to popular resume in europe. we are talking 10% to 15%. is that likely to grow? or is it under control? chancellor merkel: i sincerely hope it's not going to grow. we are trying to get it under control, but it's a poison. anytime you have untold questions or untold problems, during the euro crisis, there was those living off of prosperity and you have a situation with migration, for example. a great influx of pe

chancellor merkel: i try to be very careful about this. thee some are working, administration is working more or less. it is hard to say to people that all of that in the future will have to be handled. in china, about a billion people are using those internet platforms their whole life. that is the situation. for countries that come from a development stage that is not quite as high as the one in germany, it seems to be easier for people to leapfrog certain developments. we in germany have two problems. works that matters seem to more or less. people do not see a need, but tomorrow, this will not be sufficient. people are not getting more curious. that is what we have to manage. we have to do in school, the educational sectors. we have to teach young people. you are absolutely right. countries,mber of you have very much of a strategy of artificial intelligence. we have to be more focused, not for the research project here and there, but there is this idea of a franco german research policy on artificial intelligence because it will not be

thank you very much. >> chancellor merkel, you took the words out of my mouth. a platform between politics, the economy, and civil society. i think it is important that these new technologies are user-friendly. that we help society. with regards to technology, you spoke about data. you said that the new currency in the new society will probably be data. i would like to ask about data and artificial intelligence. if you look at other countries, applies artificial intelligence that is not in terms of the development. is that a concern? chancellor merkel: i try to be very careful about this. the administration is working for her last. is hard to say that information will need to be handled by an internet platform. when billion people are using internet platforms their whole life. that is the situation. for countries that come from a development state that are not quite as high, it seems to be easier for people to leapfrog certain developments. problemsy, we have two . the matters seem to work more or less. tomorrow, this will not be sufficient. people are not getti

expected to speak today my colleague ben falloon told us earlier what to expect especially from chancellor merkel the dynamic giufà is here today initial to warm up the davos crowd europe is in focus and the german chancellor angela merkel and the french president manuel mccoy have a very similar message closer integration and europe has a strong role in the world not just economically but also politically they'll both be standing strong for globalization something that president trump does not stand for he will no doubt eclipse their performances when he arrives here on friday you know he's been there and. will be carrying chancellor merkel speech from there live on our program that's in about four hours from now also check out our website and follow d.w. business on twitter for any live updates from the faults. cape town region of south africa is in the grips of the longest drought in living memory since twenty fifteen the area has seen no substantial rainfall and none is expected before may or june water is already being rationed and the authorities say they'll have to cut off all supplies for

government that's also democratic party has voted to enter formal coalition talks with chancellor angela merkel's conservatives and this also hands was too close to call so every vote of the more than six hundred delegates at the party conference had to be counted individual they had the outcome was a clear majority in favor of moving forward with negotiations. the vote was too close for comfort but in the end relief for the s.p.d. leadership not insurance has the green light to continue negotiations that could lead to another coalition government with angola medical's conservatives yes p d is still in the game and there's still a chance that it will at least put its stamp on the policies of the next german government fine point symphony one percent of something is more than one hundred percent of nothing so if we can do something good for people in this country if we can do something for europe and people around us i believe and i know many have a different view but my view is we should do it. in the post time feel not insulted and this to. the major policy lines have already been agreed between

in troubled political times a rare moment of distraction for chancellor merkel as she received a children's choir at the chancellery. one first image thing which have brought here today is god's blessing and for that i'd like to give you my heartfelt thanks. perhaps us what merkel felt she needed us our conservatives went into a second day of explore she talks with the social democrats the s.p.d. is pushing for concessions such as a far more ambitious vision of europe's future afghans a shot as their guts course in team europe i must be one of the new government's main topics no matter what the government might look like that's why i hope that anglo-american hosty hoover and i will be able to reach an agreement today that allows germany to once again be the motor of the european union or at least this is our common goal of minds our must see video with the failure of november's coalition talks still fresh in their minds the two sides have agreed on strict confidentiality so few details are emerging but there are small signs of progress with a report slipping out that agreement has been reac

deja vu news live from berlin could a new coalition government for germany be within reach chancellor angela merkel and her conservatives have been holding talks with the leader of the social democrats the first day has ended on a positive note we'll get the latest from our correspondent also coming up. parents remembers the victims of the attacks three years ago that horrified the world the killings began when gunmen stormed the offices of the satirical magazine charlie abdo. and four think is skaters from both sides of the korean divide look forward to an unlikely cross border were given act the winter olympics. in atlanta. i'm michelle henery good to have you with us. the first round of talks to form a new coalition government in germany has ended on a positive note a spokesman for the negotiations said that they had been serious concentrated but also open chancellor angela merkel's conservatives are holding the talks with the center left social democrats after previous negotiations with other parties failed germany has been waiting for. new government since the election which took place more th

will go into the opposition then chancellor merkel begins exploratory talks with the pro-business free democrats and the greens but those talks failed then the president of germany frank steinmeyer urges medicals christian democrats and the social democrats of martin sure to hold talks after that all night marathon negotiations the leadership of b s b recommends starting formal coalition talks now this coming sunday the s.b. the rank and file will decide whether or not to back that decision by party leaders but the party is divided especially the youth wing of the social democrats it's simply not convinced the s. video should go into correlation with america for another four years and it looks like the youth wing could hold the balance of power in sunday's vote we caught up with a youth wing leader. six months ago no one knew who he was now it seems everyone wants a piece of kevin care net. at just twenty eight the leader of the s.p.d. as youth wing is on a mammoth mission to stop another grand coalition between the social democrats and the conservatives what germans call. we reject a

chancellor merkel wished success to the leader of her would be coalition partner the s.p.d. now it's up to martine schultz to convince everyone at the party conference and get the party members to vote with the yes if all goes well germany could have a new government by early spring. let's get more detail his political correspondent to thomas spargo welcome thomas what's in this twenty eight page document that they had of pass' and agreed. every imaginable topic infrastructure transport education foreign policy wide range of issues explained all in a very general way i would say that two aspects clearly stand out one the idea that the parties agree to work closely on european integration in particular alongside france and a second issue one that has been very contentious the issue of migration and that proposed limits on the number of migrants that could arrive to germany as well as on family reunification an issue that was particularly controversial in recent days those are certainly the issues that are present in that twenty eight page document but it's important to stress

neither the social democrats lay them out and shoot no christian democrats chancellor angela merkel can guarantee a positive outcome but going into the talks they were hopeful. museums in a b. and b. a court will lead the negotiations in a constructive and inclusive way here. is going i believe we can do it we're committed to working together very rapidly and intensively. but migration in europe divide the two sides the social democrats want the families of refugees to be able to join them here right when conservatives are against that plan on the e.u. martin short says big idea is for a united states of europe conservatives remain skeptical. the social democrats hosted the first day of talks at the party's headquarters day like angle america's conservatives achieved their worst electoral showing in post-war german history and after september's election they said they would go into opposition but now they say what the country needs is a stable government. to survive this given the results of the elections. it's clear that things can't go on as they were very fully tissues that . the int

sister party of chancellor merkel's conservatives it comes at an awkward time for chancellor merkel as she prepares to start exploratory coalition talks with the social democrats. viktor orban the right wing prime minister of hungary is a regular guest here with the conservative c.s.u. party in bavaria and regular guests are often invited because you know in advance how they will behave in this regard orbán does not disappoint as a known euro skeptic he opposes germany's refugee policy which he dubs a problem of democracy. after. i told our bavarian friends that i think in the year twenty eighteen we will restore the will of the people in europe you need. for your case study tony. and that the european people step by step will force decisions concerning refugee policy that are in their best interest. the man responsible for inviting orbán is horst the who for the c.s.u. party leader who will be part of the coalition talks with the s.p.d. beginning on sunday to the s.p.d. or bond's visit is a slap in the face nonetheless they hope for makes the point of openly supporting orbán. any down

here in germany chancellor angela merkel is leading talks in berlin aimed at forming a new governing coalition knuckles conservatives are holding the discussions with center left social democrats today today is the second day of the exploratory talks with germany's approach to the e.u. it integration among blocs members set to be key points of discussion tangible that previous talks with the greens and the pro-business preemie kratz that failed to produce a coalition in november. while covering these talks at the c.d.u. headquarters in berlin for us is our political correspondent. the camera this is chancellor merkel's second attempt to form a government following september's election how are things looking at this point. all sides say they're really interested in having constructive talks and actually making headway on substance one must of course bear in mind that after the social democrats initially saying that they would not continue the governing coalition those very two parties that are still in government now talking about whether to make a fresh start and that is so much hard

time helen a home for a good to have you with us german chancellor i'm going to merkel has a box on a key talks about forming a new governing coalition to lead the country going into the negotiations the chancellor said she was optimistic macas conservatives to hold an exploratory tricks with the scent to net social day. mcgrath's previous negotiations with other parties failed sticking points this time around are expected to include germany's refugee policies and its approach to european integration. have a listen to america on the social democrat leader martin shots had to say as those talks got underway. because the c.d.u. is going into these talks with the aim of creating the conditions to form a stable government. that's because we believe that the tasks ahead for which we have the voters mandate are enormous in terms of foreign policy challenges european challenges and also in domestic affairs would last for. we all sense that the challenges for a new federal government however it may luker be structured lie in that the new year in which we all live must also include a new kind

from but it germany tries to end its political stalemate and form a new governing coalition chancellor merkel says she's optimistic as talks begin that there's still plenty of room for discord with her potential partners the social democrats look at the latest from our correspondent also coming up paris remembers the victims of the attacks three years ago that horrified the walt the killings began when gunmen stormed the offices of the statistical magazine show that he had to. and soaring to success ski jumping coming to show off walls looking back storage final stage when off to dominating the four hills tournament could the polish ace make it a clean sweep. or. find a home for good to have you with us german chancellor i'm going to moscow has invoked on key talks about forming a new governing coalition to lead the country going into the negotiations the chancellor said she was optimistic merkel's conservatives are holding the exploratory short sweet dissent unless. social democrats after previous negotiations with other parties failed sticking points this time around are expected to include

in troubled political times a rare moment of distraction for chancellor merkel as she received germany star singers and the chancellery today. what you have brought change today is god's blessing and for that i'd like to give you my heartfelt thanks. god's blessing is what machall needed conservatives hosted the social democrats for a second day of exploratory talks and the s.p.d. pushing for concessions a far more ambitious vision of europe's future for instance guns they shot us their guts course until you're a must be one of the new government's main topics no matter what the government might look like that's why i hope that angle america hosty hofer and i will be able to reach an agreement today that allows germany to once again be the motor of the european union at least this is our common goal. it's our must see. mindful of november's failed coalition talks the two sides have agreed strict confidentiality so few details are emerging there are small signs of progress however with reports slipping out that agreement has been reached on raising the threshold for the top rate of inco

you have been watching german chancellor angela merkel speaking there at the c.d.u. headquarters in berlin where germany is moving one step closer to getting a new government formal coalition talks between the chancellor who we just heard from and the social democrats are finally getting underway at this hour more than four months after germans went to the polls to elect a new government as well as germany's future government also at stake in these talks the political futures of the two party leaders the social democrats only narrowly voted to begin the negotiations at a special conference party conference this past weekend now as p.t. chairman martin schultz is has indicated that he is unlikely to stay on as leader if those talks fail and if they don't fail the s.p.d.m. four hundred forty thousand members will vote on whether to approve it here is what their party leader said going into the talks have less relief on. the negotiations building on the results already achieved in the. different social democratic mode so we don't agree with you know the document i share

the political fate of germany's chancellor angela merkel could be decided this weekend and not by the voters or even her own party but by her potential coalition partners on sunday leader of the social democrats marching scholz will try to convince a special party conference to enter coalition talks with merkel and her conservatives a no vote would mean either a minority government or fresh elections. these three leaders want to join forces and form a government but it's a nervous affair none of them know whether this man will win the backing off his party the social democrats in particular yesterday's youth wing has strong reservations about joining another grand coalition. we reject a renewed grand coalition because we're convinced it wouldn't be right for democracy in germany and we consider it a negligent to let the far right have to become the leading opposition party. and recent days party leader martin shows has been touring the country lobbying for a yes vote on the grand coalition because of their own style of concentrating on winning the majority of the party conference on s

to get that better deal well she will have to give them something i mean listening to german chancellor merkel she doesn't really sound like season for a fresh start that does see she also went back on the record saying that now this blueprint that came out of these preparatory talks was really the framework within which she wants to discuss a coalition now this is coded language for the social democrats are not really going to get anything beyond what they already see on the table this now results today actually gives the social democrat leader mohsen still something to work with because he will be able to come back with this renewed pressure on him saying you will have to give me something on the issue of health care for instance or on education which you very much sees as the key point where he wants social democrats really to put their stamp on a potential new grand coalition in germany. and your prediction briefly how long do you think these talks are going to run with all these factors flight floating around at the very least till if everything goes according to plan of well talking of o

party leader he says his party has a clear requirement for any possible coalition with chancellor merkel's conservatives quickly here what he had to say. if we enter into this kind of a government then it must be under the condition that this government makes europe stronger we'll be discussing that this morning and it's something we basically all support. because what role is europe playing in these coalition talks. well it is an overarching issue i mean it has an impact on trade and everything and all sides are very much aware in fact they also agree that there needs to be a positive signal a positive oncet towards french president manuel mccall who's grand vision for europe for a closer europe a more integrated euro zone have been on the table for months now and germany is unable to deliver an answer now the difference is there are that particularly the c.d.c. this is a party of anger merkel's party fears close integration feel fear is that there could be some financial liabilities attached to that having to basically vote for debts of other countries this is been a very long standing i

sarah: meanwhile, chancellor merkel has been in paris to meet french president emmanuel macron . they are trying to hammer out a series of reforms to the eurozone. macron is keen to see change. he wants a separate budget and single finance minister for the euro zone. but merkel is not so sure. reporter: over the last weeks and months, emmanuel macron has been left waiting. he is eager to push on with grand plans for europe, but his key partner, the german chancellor, has been busy with other things. she has been struggling to form a new government at home. inevitably, those struggles were a major issue when it the 2 leaders face to the press. merkel said she was optimistic she would soon reach a coalition with germany's social democrats. chancellor merkel: i can see substantial a race of agreement, notably regarding our european ambitions, and i am convinced for that we need a stable government. reporter: "our ambitions cannot be realized alone, and i have already said it several times, they needed to be accompanied by german ambitions." and those ambitions are high. added eu sum

common ground to enter formal coalition talks a less exploratory talks enter their final day chancellor merkel says no many hurdles still remain. lobbying groups have been protesting outside the talks every day now among them trade unionists who fear the end of coal mining in germany and those solidly against another health reform today they were joined by supporters of the european union calling for deeper european integration a demand supported by social democrat leader martin schulz. but meals on a such a. government ought to be but it must be under the condition that our strengths nice europe will be discussing douglas and it's something we all support in principle. it would solve the harmony. but there still disagreement over exactly how deep european integration should be other known sticking points between the conservatives and the social democrats are refugee policy and taxation but chancellor merkel remains optimistic the talks will reach a conclusion tonight as we know there are still big hurdles to overcome. speaking for my party i can say will be a constructive fest possible in our

this is news live from then after months of deadlock is in the german government now inside chancellor angela merkel says she hopes to form a ruling coalition by. this have potential partners the social democrats face a battle as leader martin schultz tries to win over skeptical members. also on the program the african union demands an apology from donald trump expressing its outrage at the u.s. president's alleged use of derogatory comments to describe the continent. and in german soccer the business league is back with the top of the table clash second place shall be hoping to continue their on the run as they face like six tonight. i've. learned welcome my name is christopher spring it thanks for joining us german chancellor angela merkel says she hopes to form a new government by east that is off to her conservatives reached agreement with the social democrats yesterday on launching a formal coalition talks a previous attempt remember to form a coalition with smaller parties failed late last year friday's breakthrough has eased months of political uncertainty here in germany there are however st

attitudes about anglo america america stands for political stability seventy percent agree merkel's best days as chancellor are over sixty seven percent agree and merkel's c.d.u. neglects concerns over refugees according to fifty nine percent. of the german government's most important task by far is still the refugee issue even though it's less politically charged than it was a year ago. when asked if families of war refugees should be allowed to join them here in germany forty one percent said yes forty eight percent said no. and if new elections were held this sunday germans would not vote much differently than a month ago the c.d.u. c.s.u. would receive thirty three percent of the vote the s.p.d. twenty one percent the f.t. would get thirteen percent of the vote and the f.d.p. nine percent the left party would also get nine percent and the green party eleven percent subtle variations only with the conservatives and the left party well the findings of this survey come just as chancellor merkel sister party the c.s.u. has is gathering in bavaria for their annual winter meeting and stefan meyer is a member

correspondent this helicopter and did a lot of pot is standing by outside the headquarters of chancellor merkel's c.d.u. party welcome to both of you miss taylor let's start with you with ten months of wrangling this seems. a very big step that was taken tonight but how much closer are we actually to seeing a stable german government for a step closer it didn't fail its night could have meant a negative vote could have meant that there would be fresh elections on the cars which would have meant another couple of months here in germany or at least some i'd say until easter away from seeing a new government if we see another ground coalition of social democrats and i'm going back will see to you but that is still all from certain because after all after that vote that we saw today we'll see another round of negotiations and we'll see a kind of marriage contract a potential marriage contract between the two and then the social democrat party grassroots will get the final say on whether i'm going machall can continue business as usual i'd say with the social democrat so there's still many more steps

government and migration is still a huge issue with coalition talks used to begin on sunday chancellor merkel's political allies who oppose so many of her migration policies of rub salt into the wound by inviting hungary's anti immigration prime minister to address them i'm filled in berlin welcome to the day. the will of the people is clear they don't want to live in fear of terrorism they want security. they want our borders to be secure i've told our bavarian friends that i think twenty eighteen movie the year when the will of the people in europe will be restored. also coming up on the day the fire of fury donald trump didn't see coming we'll have more on the explosive claims in that new book by michael wolff i have recordings i have no. i am certainly in absolutely in every way comfortable with everything i've reported. results in germany and while i'm going to medical conservatives are preparing to answer talks on for me a coalition government with the social democrats chancellors own sister party the c.s.u. was welcoming one of europe's staunchest anti immigration leaders to its winter c

well the findings of the survey come just as chancellor merkel sister party the c.s.u. has is gathering in bavaria for their annual winter meeting and stefan meyer is a member of the c.s.u. and spokesman for the c.d.u. c.s.u. home affairs committee in the german parliament thank you so much for spending at time with us mr meyer these polls aren't very encouraging for the chancellor many don't welcome the prospect of a grand coalition how confident are you that the leaders trying to hammer out a deal will be able to change people's minds. personally i'm very confident that all three parties are willing to conduct this negotiations in proper constructive way and all three parties and all three party leaders have the same object if to form a crown cushion certainly. a new crown coalition isn't very popular in our country but on the other hand you have to see we have three alternatives we have with the first tentative drawn coalition the second alternative a minority government and the third alternative would be new elections and it was just said the outcome wouldn't be ver

german chancellor angela merkel has used her new year's address to urge the country to pull together she says she was aware of fear is that a rift was opening up in genesis so i see in the papal what becoming divided over a range of issues to outline the key challenges facing the country in twenty eighteen. it was a difficult political year for chancellor angela merkel at the very beginning of her speech she addressed the social atmosphere in germany and the tensions. i think as i know from many conversations and encounters this year that a lot of you are concerned about the cohesion of germany it has been a long time since the differences of opinion about this have been so stark some have even spoken of a rift running through our society. merkel mentioned the worries over whether the government would be able to organize and direct immigration into germany but she also spoke of the fears and doubts of people living in the countryside who feel left behind those are her obligations as for foreign policy she look to europe and says she is expecting decisive years ahead for the european

chancellor merkel is stealing their thunder again because that was one of their issues being part of that coalition previously some say it was but i wouldn't go that far i think i think there was a clear point made here that she was willing to give. the limelight and he was very happy to take it and we did keep hearing him saying the word new or new renewal to pop and that's also a referee that sometimes and i machall picked up and that is at least some some watching that was she's helping him out perfessor i want to get to you now do you think the people of germany are relief that finally they can move on to the actual a coalition talks potentially i think a majority with things not all people in germany. most people in germany expected to have a new great kurdish and because they want to have stability political stability in our political landscape theys and from my side a few political tries us at all at the moment it's a quite unusual situation for germany the germans are not experienced that stuff and it's depending on the size of the political landscape now new parties in the p

going into coldish in talks with chancellor merkel's c.d.u. looking at the paper that came out today i'm very disappointed. if we see the results if we see on what what is be focused on before these talks and what are the results right now i think is pretty have to step back on the very core issue of such as their health insurance question for example also the question about a maximum amount of asylum seekers coming into the country that's a big thinkers and now there's no exactly exactly and that's exactly the point which we always focused on that the right to asylum i mean it's still in this agreement that the right to access is aside it needs to exist but if we link it with with the maximum number well it's kind of contradiction in that case. do you think you'll vote against it. i mean i'm not one of the party member who will be at this party convention to vote for or against it but i'm part of the organisation which is that migration committee in berlin and i know that the base that the ground is against this against this treaty so. i'm ve

a key vote in germany this weekend could decide to chancellor merkel's political that future on sunday s.p.d. party leader martin schultz will try to convince a special party conference to back of the leadership decision to talk to the chance the conservatives about entering into a new grand coalition will negotiations with the conservatives can only be good if the conference votes yes but there is resistance from the s.p.d. particularly its youth wing and over with me a minority government or the possibly old possibility of fresh elections i should say spoke a while ago in a short while ago in berlin and here's what he said about sunday's vote your thoughts are clearly on the start of the we are concentrating on reaching a majority at a party congress on sunday in favor of the decision to enter into talks aimed at finding a coalition deal that is my task to get a majority of others are trying to get a majority for their positions that is how the democratic party works up you know a bit of it will cost the pub so those talks with about starting those talks about talks about starting a

leaning well into spring and summer and just briefly if you can we're just all of this leave chancellor merkel and her legacy. if she fails to put this coalition together this is a big blow for her we've talked about the beginning of the end very often before but this could well be something she can't recover from. correspondent michelle or cooper reporting here in berlin thank you very much now have the snowfall across the swiss alps has cut off several villages and popular ski resorts stranding more than ten thousand holiday makers and some areas reported up to two metres of snow over a forty eight hour period that is cut off road and rail routes rescue crews have started helicopter evacuations authorities are also planning controlled explosions to blast away snow that poses an avalanche risk. the swiss mountain resort of say a mud is famous for its views of the matter horn but that iconic peak hasn't been seen in days the area had two meters of snow in a forty eight hour period lifts and runs of had to be closed and an estimated thirteen thousand people are stuck after snow closed mountain

now, from today's action at the world economic summit, german chancellor angela merkel talked about the need for european countries to be at the forefront of technology and the rise of populism. chancellor merkel: my colleagues, ladies and gentlemen , let me say i am delighted to be back in douglas -- in davos. me remind all of

but for chancellor merkel what is at stake for her today. well for her is a lot it's a stake and as i mentioned this vote here will decide where the social democrats enter those formal talks with angela merkel angela merkel had already tried to enter another coalition or at least discuss the possibility of entering another coalition with two minor parties the liberals and the greens those talks collapsed and she was left with the only chance of talking to the social democrats in order to form a stable government in germany if the social democrats here decide to vote against that. would be left without coalition partners she would be either forced to have a coalition of minority government something that she doesn't want all the possibility of fresh elections which could also harm her and her party it essentially could also harm the s.p.d. and that's obviously why the pressure is so high not only for i'm going to michael but also for the conservatives on the social democrats in general to try and form that grand coalition thomas sparrow and d

a no from the party conference would also put chancellor merkel in an open position it's an unusual situation for america she can only wait and see wait and see whether a party other than her own will help her secure a fourth term as chancellor if a second attempt to form a government fails macas public image will suffer no one could replace her right away but there are younger politicians in her party who are waiting in the wings for now though they are keeping a low profile. refused to talk about what may happen after medical she's been a leading candidate she is germany's chancellor and she must also lead the mexico. that should be the focus of our attention not what might happen in the future so the leaders of three different parties are keeping their fingers crossed that b.s.p. peace party congress on sunday will vote in favor of a grand coalition. there's a look now at some of the other stories that are making news around the world turkish forces have launched an operation against a kurdish controlled enclave in syria's foreign region with comes just days after turkey's president said h

this is deja vu news live from berlin ending germany's political limbo chancellor merkel's conservative son marshall says social democrats starting formal talks to forge a new government that's four months after national elections can they deliver a grand coalition. and turkey's president visits the command center for the offensive against kurds in northern syria most turks backed the military action but will they continue to do so as their troops move deeper into syria we'll have the latest from our correspondent in istanbul. i'm brian thomas a very warm welcome to the show germany has moved one step closer to getting a new government formal coalition talks between chancellor merkel's conservatives and the social democrats have kicked off more than four months after germans went to the polls now both leaders were upbeat going into these talks there's a lot riding on the outcome not only possible future government is at stake but the future of both political leaders as well here's what they had to say just before the talks. you get this flooding down on the spirits not go it's important