Germany's Social Democratic Party just threw a lifeline to Chancellor Angela Merkel's government.
On Thursday, the party voted to begin talks with Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party to create a coalition government.
Germany has been in political deadlock since the country's election in September. No party received enough votes in that election to form a government, and a coalition of parties has yet to form.
Previously, the social democrats had ruled out forming a government with Merkel's party, but in November the party's leader said he'd let his members vote on how to proceed.
