Opponents of the coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives won a vote for the leadership of Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) on Saturday, raising questions over the future of the government.
The SPD said Norbert Walter-Borjans and his running mate Saskia Esken won about 53% of the vote by members. The pair have said they want to renegotiate the coalition deal to focus more on social justice, investment and climate policies.
If Merkel's conservatives refuse to co-operate, a snap election or a minority government could be triggered - unappealing options for both the SPD and conservatives. After 14 years of leading Europe's biggest economy, Merkel has said she will not run again.
The duo's SPD rivals, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz and Klara Geywitz, from eastern Germany, won about 45%. They had widely been seen as forerunners.
The oldest party in Germany is in turmoil after a run of dismal regional and European election results and a six-month long leadership race which has left them trailing in polls. Many members want to leave government and rebuild in opposition.
After their election Walter-Borjans and Esken promised to try to unite and strengthen the party.
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