Ah, but the SPD canform a coalition with the CDU as the JUNIOR partner. Perhaps the CDU grandees will now dump Merkel and do a deal?
No way. Merkel/CDU was the majority winner (albeit by a whisker) therefore Herr Schroeder will be forced in the end to step down (his own party will force him out). SPD will be the junior partner and will hold the Foreign or Defense Ministry portfolios as well as several critical domestic portfolios.