Angela Merkel’s third term as Germany’s chancellor to be marked by move to left

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s third term — set in stone by parliamentary election on Tuesday — is expected to be marked by a decided move to the political left, with looming legislation that introduces a countrywide minimum wage.

Ms. Merkel heads up a coalition of Germany’s largest political parties, including the conservative Union party and the Social Democrats — two blocs that are normally legislative rivals, The Globe and Mail reported.

As part of finding consensus with the two battling parties, Ms. Merkel is predicted to support left-leaning legislation, like the minimum wage act. Still, the nation’s won’t dramatically change how it approaches its debt dealings with Europe, The Global and Mail said.

Her newfound coalition bridges 504 conservatives and Social Democrats, of a possible 631 seats in Parliament. Facing off in the opposition leader seat is Germany’s best-known and most highly regarded Communist — Gregor Gysi, The Globe and Mail reported.

Germany’s press isn’t blind to the political chaos that could result, if Ms. Merkel doesn’t find and strike the proper cooperative tone. The country’s largest-circulated newspaper, Bild, blared on its front page on Tuesday: “dear grand coalition, we are your extraparliamentary opposition now.” And editor Kai Diekmann wrote that “this parliament is too weak; it’s opposition too small and too left-wing.”