Germany was thrust into uncertainty early Monday morning after a month of four-party exploratory talks about forming a so-called Jamaica coalition collapsed.

Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to navigate Europe's largest economy through a difficult period ahead after the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) pulled out of make or break negotiations with her Christian Democrats (CDU), Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Greens.

Read more: Opinion: Germany's political shock

Merkel said she regretted the breakdown of talks, noting that she and her conservative bloc believed they were "on a path where we could have reached an agreement."

"I regret, with full respect for the FDP, that we could not come to a mutual agreement," she told reporters shortly after midnight local time.

The 'Jamaica' coalition is no longer an option for Merkel

What next for Merkel?

While Merkel will remain acting chancellor, it remains unclear where this leaves her prospects of forming a new government.

Her conservatives could choose to enter talks with just the Greens to form a minority government.

The Social Democrats (SPD), who were the second-biggest party in the September election, ruled out forming a second consecutive grand coaltion later on Monday. SPD leader Martin Schulz said his party is "not available" for another coalition with Merkel and the SPD is not afraid of new elections.

After suffering a humiliating election loss in September, the SPD has repeatedly reaffirmed that its role in the upcoming Bundestag will be in opposition.

Read more: What now for Germany after coalition talks fail?

Merkel said she would inform President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who has the power to call new elections, on Monday afternoon of the failure of the coalition talks.

This suggests that a minority government with the Greens may be out of the question and the country could be heading for a new election.

Free Democrats left talks

An hour before Merkel told reporters that the talks had collapsed, FDP head Christian Lindner announced that his party had walked out of the negotiations after "reached compromises were questioned again."

"It is better not to govern than to govern wrongly," he said.

Read more:

- The FDP's Christian Lindner: the coalition killer

- What you need to know about Germany's liberals - the Free Democratic Party

Watch video 00:42 FDP's Lindner: Why talks broke down

Lindner tweeted shortly afterwards defending his decision to step away from the negotiating table.

"We don't blame anyone for sticking to their principles. But we also do so ourselves. We were voted for to reverse the current trends, but we couldn't reach an agreement."

Negotiating parties react

Horst Seehofer, the head of the CSU, said that an agreement between the four negotiating parties "had been in reach" before the FDP walked out.

That sentiment was echoed by Green party co-chair Cem Özdemir, who said that he and his team had always shown a readiness to compromise on key issues. "However, the only possible democratic constellation was unfortunately shot down by the FDP," he said.

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democrats "It is at least a day of deep contemplation about how things proceed in Germany. But I want to say to you that I, as chancellor, will do everything to lead this country through these difficult weeks."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Christian Lindner, leader of the Free Democrats "It is better not to govern than to govern incorrectly."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Cem Ozdemir, leader of the Greens "An agreement would have been possible with the necessary goodwill. We were ready for this agreement right till the last seconds, and even to go a bit further, where you cannot actually go."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel, deputy leader of the Social Democrats "The SPD is not the spare wheel on Ms. Merkel's careening car."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Horst Seehofer, leader of the Christian Social Union, sister party to the Christian Democrats "It is a pity that we did not succeed in achieving that which was within our reach."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Heiko Maas, Justice Minister and member of the Social Democrats "This party-political egoism damages our democracy."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democrats. "We believed we were on a path where an agreement could have been reached. I regret, with full respect for the FDP, that we could not come to a mutual agreement."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Volker Wissing, leader of the Free Democrats in Rhineland-Palatinate "Merkel has failed. She wanted to pursue green-and-black politics and not engage with the concerns of the FDP. The collapse of talks was the logical consequence."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Julia Klöckner, Deputy Federal Chairperson of the Christian Democrats "You can do what the FDP did, but don't have to. Well-prepared spontaneity. The decent thing would have been if all party chairpeople had announced the cancellation together."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions Alexander Gauland, deputy leader of the Alternative for Germany "I see that we're having an effect. Frau Merkel has failed, and it is time for her to go as chancellor." Author: Ajit Niranjan



Lindner's decision to call off talks was also rebuked by Green party lawmaker Reinhard Bütikofer, who posted on Twitter that the FDP chief had chosen "his own brand of populist agitation over political responsibility."

Stumbling blocks

Although the CDU/CSU received the most votes in Germany's national election on September 24, its surprisingly low result (32.9 percent) meant that the conservatives needed the FDP (10.7 percent) and the Greens (8.9 percent) in order to represent over 50 percent of voters.

A "Jamaica coalition" – so named for the party colors of the three blocs – has worked at the state level, but has never been attempted at the federal level. For some, the prospect of a "new constellation" of political parties promised to foster a revived political culture and policies to bring the country foward.

During four weeks of difficult exploratory coalition talks, the parties were able to agree in principle on a number of issues, from digitalization to agriculture. But they struggled to find consensus on the hot button issue of immigration. More than 1 million people seeking refuge have entered the country since 2015.

Germany's colorful coalition shorthand Colorful shorthand for German coalitions Coalitions are common under Germany's proportional representation system. To describe complex ballot outcomes, political pundits use colorful symbolism, often alluding to the flags of other nations. Coalition short-hand includes 'Jamaica,' 'Kenya,' and 'traffic light' coalitions.

Germany's colorful coalition shorthand 'Jamaica' option - black, yellow and green The three-way deal between the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats, whose color is yellow will not be happening at national level after the FDP called off talks. The northern state of Schleswig-Holstein currently has a "Jamaica" government, as CDU premier Daniel Günther governs with the FDP and the Greens.

Germany's colorful coalition shorthand Black-red coalition Conservative black combined with transformative red is the color code when the Christian Democrats govern in a grand coalition with the Social Democrats. Yellow on these billboards alludes to Germany's tricolor flag of black, red and gold. Black tops the flag, signifying Germany's responsibility for the Holocaust.

Germany's colorful coalition shorthand 'Pizza Connection' in Bonn, before parliament moved to Berlin When Bonn was still Germany's capital, individual conservatives and Greens met from 1995 in its suburban Italian Sassella restaurant. Since then, the 'Pizza Connection' has become code for speculation over further links. At regional level, in Hesse's Wiesbaden assembly, Merkel's CDU and Greens have governed together since 2014. Baden-Württemburg's Greens-CDU coalition has governed since 2016.

Germany's colorful coalition shorthand Another untried combination: Black, red, green, symbolized by Kenya's flag So far, a 'Kenyan' coalition has only emerged once at regional state level - last year in Saxony-Anhalt, when the SPD's vote collapsed, and the AfD took a quarter of the votes. Premier Reiner Haseloff of Merkel's conservatives forged a coalition comprising his conservative CDU, the battered SPD and the region's Greens.

Germany's colorful coalition shorthand 'Traffic light' coalition The market-oriented liberal FDP, whose color is yellow, has in the past generally ruled out federal coalitions sandwiched between the Social Democrats, whose color is red, and the Greens. A current example is Rhineland Palatinate's three-way regional state coalition based in Mainz and headed by Social Democrat Malu Dreyer.

Germany's colorful coalition shorthand Center-left combinations in three eastern states Red-red-green coalitions exist in two German regions: since last September in Berlin city state and since 2014 in Thuringia. It's Erfurt-based government is headed by Left party premier Bodo Ramelow, seen signing (third from left). Berlin's three-way mix is headed by Social Democrat Michael Müller. Brandenburg has a two-way coalition, comprising the Social Democrats and the Left party. Author: Ian P. Johnson



The refugee issue helped fuel the rise of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), which won nearly 13 percent of the vote to become the third-largest party in the Bundestag after pulling votes from across the political spectrum.

Read more: Germany's coalition talks - what are the sticking points

The Greens also demanded that Germany wean itself off coal to meet climate change goals.

The FDP and CDU/CSU were against rapidly shutting down coal-fired power plants over concerns about job growth and the economy.

rs, cw, dm/se (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)