German Chanceller Angela Merkel's odds of remaining the country's leader diminished today as talks to form a three-way coalition consisting of Merkel's party -- the Christian Democratic Union of Germany -- the pro-business Free Democrats, and the environmentalist Green Party fell apart after negotiators cited a lack of common ground among the three. This is my shocked face. ;-)

"Efforts to form a three-way coalition government have failed, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday, pitching Germany into its worse political crisis for decades, raising the prospect of new elections and casting doubt over her future.

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With German leadership seen as crucial for a European Union grappling with governance reform and Britain’s impending exit, FDP leader Christian Lindner’s announcement that he was pulling out spooked investors and sent the euro falling.

A tired-looking Merkel said she would stay on as acting chancellor and consult President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on how to move forward. A deal had been within reach, she said.

With the Social Democrats (SPD) sticking on Monday to their pledge after losses in a September election not to go back into a Merkel-led “grand coalition” of center-left and center-right, the most likely option looked to be new elections."

Merkel fourth term in doubt as German coalition talks fail

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"Politics is just show business for ugly people."