The most likely outcome of coalition talks was a so-called `` grand coalition '' between the conservatives ( CDU\/CSU ) and the social democrats ( SPD ) , with the three smaller parties ( liberals , greens and the left ) in the opposition . The most likely outcome of coalition talks was a so-called `` grand coalition '' between the Christian Democrats ( CDU\/CSU ) and the Social Democrats ( SPD ) , with the three smaller parties ( liberals , greens and the left ) in the opposition .