German Chancellor and CDU Chairwoman, Angela Merkel, SPD Chairman Sigmar Gabriel (L) and CSU Chairman Horst Seehofer shake hands after they signed the three parties' coalition contract on November 27. (Photo: Getty)

VOVworld)- German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s alliance on Wednesday agreed to establish a coalition government with the German Social Democratic Party (SPD). The CDU/CSU alliance won the general election 2 months ago without the majority needed to establish their own government. Merkel’s alliance and the SPD reached their agreement after a marathon negotiation lasting 17 hours. Merkel will begin her third term as Chancellor on December 17. However, the deal must be approved by SPD’s 474,000 members, many of whom are still skeptical about a coalition with Merkel’s alliance.