berlin chancellor angela merkel saturday welcome prospect talk grand coalition social democrat spd rival defend record previous government say work well merkel fourth term cast doubt pro-business free democrats fdp walk three-way coalition talk conservative bloc green last sunday cause political impasse europe big economy friday spd reverse previous decision agree talk merkel raise possibilities new grand coalition rule germany last four years minority government address party members saturday merkel argue voters give conservatives mandate rule sept. 24 election hand party parliamentary seat limit coalition options conservatives bleed support far-right alternative germany afd europe need strong germany desirable get government place quickly merkel tell regional party meet northern germany add however act government could carry day day business ask voters go poll would think totally wrong say monday merkel say would prefer new elections minority government party would hold power others without even mention option minority government merkel say want look ahead setbacks last week sound self-assured draw applause speech turn attention fully spd welcome prospect talk former partner defend record last coalition work well together say add grand coalition germany enjoy strong labor market decades balance budget pensioners families benefit argue president frank-walter steinmeier host merkel spd leader martin schulz leader conservative csu sister party meet thursday steinmeier exert considerable pressure schulz change course sake stability germany however one say things easy two former partner already jostle policy merkel say aim maintain germany solid finance cut tax expand digital infrastructure nod csu conservative ally also say aim limit number migrants enter germany 200,000 per year however may hard spd swallow cap may call breach constitution geneva convention spd limit put family members want join asylum seekers spd deputy leader ralf stegner tell funke media group schulz friday reject deal merkel say nothing automatic outcome promise party members vote talk spd split many members fear renew grand coalition would political suicide score bad result since 1933 september election several lead spd members call commitments investment education home senior spd members make clear let merkel hold hostage mrs merkel position set condition malu dreyer premier state rhineland palatinate tell trierscher volksfreund merkel point grand coalition social democrats