(10 Oct 2005)
1. Exterior building
2. Social Democratic Party Chairman Franz Muentefering walking to podium
3. Media and cameras
4. SOUNDBITE: (German) Franz Muentefering, Social Democratic Party Chairman:
"We want to try and want to contribute that there will be a ground coalition, a stable government, a government design for four years, a government facing the challenges of this country and which uses the potential of such a grand coalition to make a good policy for Germany."
5. Pan podium to cameraman
6. SOUNDBITE: (German) Franz Muentefering, Social Democratic Party Chairman:
"The decision of the leaders has been acknowledged with respect. There were several positive reactions to (German Chancellor) Gerhard Schroeder for his work during the election campaign and his work since then."
7. Close up Muentefering on camera monitor
8. SOUNDBITE: (German) Franz Muentefering, Social Democratic Party Chairman:
"We are aware that the fight against unemployment will be the biggest challenge over the next years. Therefore this coalition must do everything so that the competitiveness of the economy is all right. Everything is to be done so that there is growth and that unemployment can be fought effectively."
9. Pull out media conference
STORYLINE:
The Chairman of Germany's Social Democratic Party has welcomed an alliance with the nation's conservatives in a power sharing grand coalition.
Franz Muentefering said that his side was committed to a stable government that could last the entire four years of parliament's term.
Muentefering said that outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder would participate in coalition talks, starting next Monday, but there was no decision on whether he might play a role in the new government after losing his seven-year hold on the chancellery.
The Christian Democrats leader, Angela Merkel, described the political deal as both good and fair and vowed to tackle Germany's economic problems as she prepares to become the country's first female chancellor.
The party leaders agreed that fighting unemployment would be the new government's top task, and that both sides had to work together.
Merkel had expressed fears that a coalition government would be so divided it would be unable to take tough and potentially unpopular action to cut the costs of the welfare state to businesses.
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