BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel has pushed for the quick formation of a new governing alliance with Germany’s main centre-left party, saying only a coalition will bring the “stable government” needed at a challenging time for Europe.

Mrs Merkel’s conservative Union bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats will start talks tomorrow on a possible extension of their coalition of the past four years.

The Social Democrats insisted after a disastrous election in September they would go into opposition, but agreed to reconsider after Mrs Merkel’s coalition talks with two smaller parties collapsed.

Mrs Merkel yesterday said: “I favour quick talks.”