Berlin - Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) said Monday that the government coalition will continue to work together to address the country's economic crisis, despite a general election looming in six months' time.

"Until September 27, we need to jointly solve the problems ahead of us this year," deputy SPD leader Andrea Nahles said on German RBB radio, in reference to the election date.

The comments came after German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave an interview on prime-time television Sunday night, in which she sought to reassure viewers that the government was taking all necessary steps to address the country's economic downturn.

"The crisis is here, and I am the chancellor," Merkel told talk-show host Anne Will, at the start of the hour-long programme on ARD state broadcaster.

Merkel reinforced the message that, in principle, the state would support ailing enterprises saying, "a bridge should be built for every business that has a chance" to succeed.

Specifically, the chancellor said, such support would be made available for ailing carmaker Opel, owned by US giant General Motors (GM).

"We, the state, will help - that is clear," Merkel said of the GM-subsidiary. The chancellor emphasised however, that conditions for state aid depended on decisions being made in the US about Opel's parent company.

Merkel showed herself confident that her coalition government were taking the correct steps to help resolve the crisis. "I think, so far we have done the right thing," she told the programme.

Overall, Merkel drew a positive balance of the advances made to date in tackling the global financial crisis, ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) gathering of the world's leading economies in early April.

This was the first time in more than two years that Merkel appeared on a talk-show to explain her policies to millions of television viewers.

The chancellor and CDU leader's message was that dealing with the financial crisis was more important than gearing up for general elections due in six months.

In a slanting criticism of those who positioned themselves against government policies, Merkel said that the SPD's chancellor candidate and current German vice-chancellor Frank-Walter Steinmeier "shouldn't grumble so much."

Merkel also said the Liberal Democrats' (FDP) opposition to a proposal enabling the government to take control of ailing banks was "absurd."

The CDU leader accused the FDP, which has its sights set on a possible government coalition after September's election, of failing to offer constructive solutions.

The chancellor showed herself keen to present her CDU party as the safest pair of hands to steward the country's economy, suggesting that those who oppose the government are not acting in Germany's best interests.

The chancellor also justified her stance on two issues that have earned her criticism within her own CDU party.

Merkel said her critique of Pope Benedict's handling of ultra-conservative Bishop Richard Williamson was necessary, and defended her role in a dispute between Poland and Germany regarding a memorial for expellees.

Merkel's television appearance Sunday was preceded two weeks ago by an interview in German daily tabloid Bild. The chancellor also defended government policies on German Deutschlandfunk radio last week. (dpa)