Merkel to lead CDU again in case of new elections

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday that she would lead CDU (Christian Democratic Union) again in case of new elections, after the exploratory talks for a government coalition failed Sunday night.

She was "a woman who has responsibility and is also ready to take on more responsibility," the chancellor told the public broadcaster ZDF.

"I'm very skeptical" about leading a minority government, Merkel told ZDF. She added that she was ready to lead Germany for four more years, but that she felt a majority government was necessary for the stability in Germany and Europe.

Coalition talks of the CDU and its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU) with the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Greens have failed on Sunday night after the FDP decided to pull out for irreconcilable differences, mostly on immigration and climate.

Merkel is now facing the most serious political crisis since she assumed office 12 years ago. According to German Basic Law, the Federal Parliament will be dissolved and new elections will be held if new government cannot be formed.

Merkel denied that she personally made mistakes in the talks. "I did what I could, and as I said, we really made progress."