2013 Elections in Germany

[Peter the Lefty]

Never thought I'd say this, but I'm praying for another black-yellow majority, and for the SPD to get shattered.  It's exactly what it deserves.

[Peter the Lefty]

Yayy!  Black-yellow just might win this yet!  And no, I haven't suddenly become a conservative.  Any social democrat has reason to prefer black-yellow over black-red, for all of the following reasons:
1. The SPD deserves a good thrashing for picking Steinbrück as its candidate
2. There will be ZERO policy difference between a black-red coalition and a black-yellow one
3. If the SPD remains in opposition, then it can wait it out for incumbency fatigue with Merkel and the CDU to take its toll and win in 2017.  A second grand coalition will destroy any possibility of it getting back into power until 2021 at VERY least, most likely not until 2025. 
4. If a shred of social democracy manages to find its way back into the SPD's philosophy, it will be while the party's in opposition.  It can't have an ideological battle while in government.

[Peter the Lefty]

So the coalition talks with the SPD have begun, and apparently they (the SPD) are willing to compromise on tax hikes.  If the talks fail, the Greens are waiting in the wings.

Just why, exactly, does Merkel need a coalition partner?  Is the idea of a minority government that scary for Germans?