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Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans, here on December 5, 2019 in Berlin, are the new leaders of the SPD. REUTERS / Fabrizio Bensch

The Social Democratic Party, allied with Angela Merkel, is assembling its congress for three days. He must designate a new directorate elected by the members. The result of this vote last Saturday caused an earthquake with the victory of the outsiders, a duo from the left of the party and critic of the grand coalition.

With our correspondent in Berlin, Pascal Thibaut

A political earthquake should not take place this Friday in Germany. The Congress of the SPD does not plan to vote for or against the retention of the Social Democrats in the grand coalition that unites them with conservatives led by Chancellor Merkel.

The duo who won last weekend the majority of votes of members of the SPD and will be inducted this Friday at the head of the party takes a critical look at this union with the right. But the motion presented by the new management to the delegates does not provide for a big night.

Discussions are not excluded

Some of the positions to the left are Norbert Walter-Borjans and Saskia Esken. The text highlights topics of discussion with Christian Democrats without red lines or deadline for an agreement. The SPD wants a significant increase in the minimum wage, a revision of the recently adopted " climate package " with more ambitious ecological aims and support for the more modest and more public investments.

The Christian Democrats refuse to renegotiate the coalition contract signed with the SPD started 2018 for the rest of the legislature. But discussions are not excluded. Angela Merkel wishes to remain in power until the end of the legislature in the autumn of 2021. Concessions to the left are therefore to be expected.

In the face of bad polls for government parties, they do not want new elections. And a minority Conservative government would be the first to run counter to German political culture.