Chancellor Angela Merkel moved forward in her bid to form a fourth-term government after her prospective coalition partner agreed to swallow its misgivings and enter negotiations on a common policy platform for Germany.
Merkel, 63, welcomed the outcome of Sunday's vote by Social Democratic Party delegates in Bonn following what she termed an "intensive and contentious" debate. The chancellor's Christian Democrats and their Bavarian allies will coordinate on strategy Monday, allowing talks aimed at a resumption of the so-called grand coalition to begin as soon as Tuesday.
The euro rose in early Asian trading on the prospect of an end to a near-four-month political stalemate that has gripped Europe's biggest economy since last fall's inconclusive election. CDU leaders are keen for talks to wrap up within two to three weeks, a timetable that would enable Merkel to move toward re-inauguration by Easter.