Merkel in key talks with SDP's Schulz

Chancellor Angela Merkel was scheduled to hold first talks with Social Democrat chief Martin Schulz yesterday hoping to end Germany's political stalemate, but the atmosphere is poisoned by disobedience within her ranks.

Held at the invitation of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the talks at 8:00pm (1900 GMT) will explore if both sides are ready to launch negotiations on forming Germany's next government.

After September's elections left Merkel without a majority, the SPD had stubbornly ruled out renewing an alliance with her as it suffered a humiliating loss at the polls.

But as Merkel's bid at forming a coalition with the ecologist Greens and pro-business FDP fell apart, the SPD came under pressure to relent and avert snap elections.

Spiegel weekly noted that the meeting, which also ropes in Horst Seehofer -- the leader of Merkel's Bavarian allies -- was crucial for the veteran leader.

But the talks are clouded by a political storm sparked this week by a member of her conservatives, Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt, who flouted the government's line by voting in favour of approving a disputed weedkiller during an EU meeting.

The action, which Schmidt said he took unilaterally, was condemned as a "breach of trust" by the SPD, which has been junior coalition partner in Merkel's cabinet since 2013.