Germany's Schulz asks SPD to approve Merkel govt talks Germany's Social Democrats, the country's second strongest party, agrees to kick off exploratory talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives that could lead to a new coalition government early next year.IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES of Martin Schulz, leader of the Social Democratic Party SPD, pleading with his party to allow him to start exploratory talks on joining or backing Chancellor Angela Merkel in government