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The German Chancellor has been desperately attempting to strike a deal with former European Parliament President Martin Schulz – who currently leads her biggest rival in the Bundestag, the Social Democratic party (SPD).

The grand coalition of Germany’s two biggest parties would save Ms Merkel from having to lead with a minority Government - a feat which has never been attempted in the history of the Bundestag.

However, while the SPD have opened up to talks with Mrs Merkel’s CDU on January 7, the two have given themselves the minute deadline of mid-January to broker a deal.

The German political class are concerned under a minority government the stalwart German Chancellor will struggle to achieve in her fourth term – or be forced to pander to the far right Alternative for Germany (AFD) party who gained a foothold in the parliament in September’s vote.