German parties aim to end coalition negotiations before Feb 4

BERLIN -- Germany's CDU/CSU conservative alliance and Social Democrats (SPD) aimed to complete coalition government negotiations before Feb 4, CDU/CSU parliamentary group leader said Friday

Michael Grosse-Bromer, CDU/ CSU parliamentary group leader, made the announcement after the first round of the formal talks beginning Friday on a new "grand coalition" government. But he stressed a "time buffer" after the timing.

The coalition government is expected to be formed by the incumbent Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU with its sister party CSU, and SPD.