The parties discussing the formation of the next coalition government in Germany have reached an agreement after exploratory talks, according to Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative bloc. Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its regional counterpart, the Christian Social Union (CSU), will engage in formal negotiations with the Social Democrats (SPD) of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with Merz anticipated to assume the top position.
Confirmed by Lars Klingbeil, co-leader and parliamentary group leader of the SPD, the preliminary discussions have concluded successfully and will proceed. A joint paper will serve as the basis for coalition negotiations, initiating potentially as early as next week, as indicated by Merz.
Merz has established the goal of finalizing negotiations by Easter. The CDU/CSU secured 28.5% of the vote in the parliamentary elections on February 23, while the SPD placed third with 16.4%, trailing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) which garnered 20.8%. All parties have excluded the possibility of collaborating with the AfD.
In Germany, establishing coalition governments typically happens in two stages, starting with exploratory talks followed by formal coalition discussions.
There is a time-sensitive element as the parties aim to fast-track a relaxation of Germany’s borrowing caps through parliament before the next week begins, to stimulate Europe’s largest economy and enhance military expenditures.
This breaking news story will be updated shortly….
