CDU presidium meeting in BerlinGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel ( C ) talks to her vice - chairmans Armin Laschet ( L ) and Volker Bouffier ( R ) , before the presidium meeting of Christian Democratic Union ( CDU ) in Berlin , Germany , 21 January 2018 . The Social Democratic Party ( SPD ) decides to start coalition negotiations with the conservative Christian Democratic Union ( CDU ) and Christian Social Union ( CSU ) parties to form another so - called ' Grand Coalition ' ( Grosse Koalition , or GroKo ) government . EPA / DAVID HECKER ▶ 기사 제보 및 문의 ▶ 기자 와 1 : 1 채팅    ▶ 평창동 계 올림픽 영상 공모전