German chancellor Angela Merkel on the wires now - Reuters

  • Congratulates new Austrian coalition govt, looks forward to cooperation
  • Conservatives agree with SPD that healthcare system could be improved
  • Hopes to conclude exploratory talks with SPD by mid-January
  • Possible to seal coalition deal with SPD by March

Her comments follow that after the SPD confirmed here they will begin talks with Merkel's conservatives party on forming a majority govt.

Well, she stuck a timeline out there. Let's see if they're able to reach an accord by then. Politicians, eh?