Germany will soon have a new government, five months after the general election of 2017. The Social Democrats have voted in favor of a coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, paving the way for a new government for Europe's largest economy. CGTN's Guy Henderson reports from Berlin.

More than 5 months in the making. There wasn't much fanfare.

OLAF SCHOLZ SPD ACTING CHAIR "The Social Democrats will join the next government. The SPD did not make this decision lightly. It spent the last weeks in in-depth and transparent and open discussions over the coalition deal."

Because Germany's center left Social Democrats had pledged to head back into opposition — after poor election results in September. But Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc then failed to find an alternative partner to govern with. Bringing the SPD back to the negotiating table. The result was open rebellion - with the party's youth league leader touring the country to plead members to vote no. In the end they did not — clearing the final hurdle to a deal. Though the rebels will fight on.

KEVIN KUHNERT SPD YOUTH LEADER "We will be watching both sides of the government closely -- and will try to assure that all the non-binding declarations of intent become concrete policies and we will demand that political debate and discourse finally return to this party and to society."

Who will lead Germany for the next 4 years has finally been decided. How they'll lead it exactly, remains to be seen.

GUY HENDERSON SPD HEADQUARTERS, BERLIN "Germany's next government now has to overcome divisions within the parties of the Grand Coalition and between them - and flesh out its policies. Any lack of clarity may only embolden opponents: including the Far Right Alternative for Germany - which is for the first time polling higher than the SPD. GH, CGTN, BERLIN."