Germany: Merkel faces thorny task in building new government
Angela Merkel
BERLIN (AP) â German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended an election campaign that left her conservative bloc in first place but significantly weakened as she embarked Monday on what could be a lengthy quest to form a new government.
 Merkel  said the success of a nationalist  anti-migrant party that finished third in Sunday's election won't influence her foreign  European and refugee policies. She once more defended her decision to let in nearly 900 000 migrants and refugees  saying Germany wouldn't again face the humanitarian crisis that let to it.
Germany  Europe's biggest economy  has no tradition of minority governments  and  Merkel  has made clear she doesn't want to go that route. It would be a tall order anyway  as her bloc only holds 246 of the new parliament's 709 seats.
 Merkel  said Monday she will seek talks with the two parties  as well as with the Social Democrats. There's unlikely to be much movement before a state election Oct. 15 in Lower Saxony  one of Germany's most populous states.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel ponders during a press conference after a board meeting of the Christian Democratic Union CDU in Berlin  Germany  Monday  Sept. 25  2017  the day after the German parliament election. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
 Merkel  will have to bridge differences between the Free Democrats and Greens. The parties have a tradition of mutual suspicion as well as differences on issues including environmental policy  European financial policy and the auto industry's future.
 Merkel  also faces pressure from conservative allies for an effective response to the third-place finish of the nationalist Alternative for Germany  or AfD.  The party  won entrance to parliament for the first time Sunday after a campaign that centered on harsh criticism of  Merkel  and the migrant influx.
Still  the election results left no other party or bloc besides  Merkel 's able to lead a new government  and  Merkel  herself lacks an obvious internal challenger.  She  dismissed the idea of seeking a new election.
 Merkel 's campaign focused squarely on  her  12 years' experience leading Germany through a period of international turmoil  but offered few ideas for the future.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel ponders during a press conference after a board meeting of the Christian Democratic Union CDU in Berlin  Germany  Monday  Sept. 25  2017  the day after the German parliament election. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
 Merkel 's outgoing government took office nearly three months after Germany's 2013 election  a post-World War II record that could now be exceeded.  Merkel  said  she  won't be able to tell fellow European Union leaders at a summit this week when  her  new administration will be in place.
 She  noted  though  that the Netherlands still hasn't formed a new government after an election in mid-March.
"I'm not the most urgent case yet "  Merkel  said. "I will assure my colleagues that Germany will act responsibly in the phase in which we are in transition."
BERLIN (AP) â  [TGT]  defended an election campaign that left  [TGT]  conservative bloc in first place but significantly weakened as  [TGT]  embarked Monday on what could be a lengthy quest to form a new government.
  [TGT] said the success of a nationalist  anti-migrant party that finished third in Sunday's election won't influence  [TGT]  foreign  European and refugee policies.  [TGT]  once more defended  [TGT]  decision to let in nearly 900 000 migrants and refugees  saying Germany wouldn't again face the humanitarian crisis that let to it.
Germany  Europe's biggest economy  has no tradition of minority governments  and   [TGT] has made clear  [TGT]  doesn't want to go that route. It would be a tall order anyway  as  [TGT]  bloc only holds 246 of the new parliament's 709 seats.
  [TGT] said Monday  [TGT]  will seek talks with the two parties  as well as with the Social Democrats. There's unlikely to be much movement before a state election Oct. 15 in Lower Saxony  one of Germany's most populous states.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel ponders during a press conference after a board meeting of the Christian Democratic Union CDU in Berlin  Germany  Monday  Sept. 25  2017  the day after the German parliament election. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
  [TGT] will have to bridge differences between the Free Democrats and Greens. The parties have a tradition of mutual suspicion as well as differences on issues including environmental policy  European financial policy and the auto industry's future.
  [TGT] also faces pressure from conservative allies for an effective response to the third-place finish of the nationalist Alternative for Germany  or AfD.   [TGT] won entrance to parliament for the first time Sunday after a campaign that centered on harsh criticism of  Merkel  and the migrant influx.
Still  the election results left no other party or bloc besides   [TGT]  's able to lead a new government  and   [TGT] herself lacks an obvious internal challenger.  She  dismissed the idea of seeking a new election.
  [TGT]  's campaign focused squarely on  her  12 years' experience leading Germany through a period of international turmoil  but offered few ideas for the future.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel ponders during a press conference after a board meeting of the Christian Democratic Union CDU in Berlin  Germany  Monday  Sept. 25  2017  the day after the German parliament election. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
 Merkel 's outgoing government took office nearly three months after Germany's 2013 election  a post-World War II record that could now be exceeded.   [TGT] said   [TGT]   won't be able to tell fellow European Union leaders at a summit this week when   [TGT]   new administration will be in place.
  [TGT]   noted  though  that the Netherlands still hasn't formed a new government after an election in mid-March.
"I'm not the most urgent case yet "   [TGT] said. "I will assure my colleagues that Germany will act responsibly in the phase in which we are in transition."