Germany’s CDU and SPD reach coalition deal, paving way for new leadership

Conservative and centre-left parties in Germany have reached a deal to form a new government after weeks of negotiations, paving the way for new leadership in Europe’s biggest economy after months of political drift.

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is expected to become Germany’s next chancellor under the agreement, replacing the outgoing Olaf Scholz.

The parties involved in the coalition have said they will hold a press conference on the deal at 3 pm CET.

Merz’s two-party Union bloc emerged as the strongest force from Germany’s February federal elections.

Merz turned to the Social Democrats, Scholz’s centre-left party, to put together a coalition with a parliamentary majority.

This is a developing story and our journalists are working on further updates.