In Germany, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has said that its members have voted in favour of forming a coalition with the Union party. The result paves the way for a new federal government led by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz.
The result followed prior approvals of a deal between CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). With approvals secured from all three parties, the coalition agreement is scheduled to be formally signed next Monday. Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz’s CDU had approved the coalition agreement on Monday at a special party conference in Berlin. The CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), endorsed the deal earlier this month.
Following the SPD’s approval, party leaders will meet in Berlin on Monday to sign the coalition agreement, announce Cabinet appointments, and outline the new government’s policy priorities. The Parliament will then convene on Tuesday to elect Friedrich Merz as the new Chancellor, succeeding Olaf Scholz. The Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) won 28.5 per cent in February’s snap elections but fell short of an outright majority. Together, the parties will control 328 seats in Parliament, comfortably exceeding the 316-seat threshold needed for a governing majority.
