Sharp critics of the coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives won a vote for the leadership of Germany's Social Democratic Party on Saturday, raising big questions over the future of the government.
The SPD said leftists Norbert Walter-Borjans and Saskia Esken, who ran on a joint ticket, won 53.06 percent of the vote by members. They want to renegotiate the coalition deal to focus more on social justice, investment and climate policies.
However, the prospect of a snap election or minority government has increased as Merkel's conservatives may refuse to cooperate even though they would like to stay in power.