Conservatives, Social Democrats reach coalition agreement in Germany

BERLIN

Germany's center-right CDU/CSU alliance and the Social Democrats have reached an agreement to form a coalition government, public broadcaster ARD reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, party leaders finalized the coalition agreement during talks at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) headquarters. The results will be announced at a news conference later today.

The daily Bild reported that under the agreement, the Social Democrats will receive five of the fifteen ministerial posts, including the key ministries of finance, justice, and defense. The CDU/CSU alliance will control the remaining 10 ministries, including the interior and foreign ministries.

Social Democrat Boris Pistorius is expected to continue serving as the defense minister in the new Cabinet. Reports indicate that veteran conservative politician Johann Wadephul will become the foreign minister.

Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) won the snap elections in February with 28.5% of the vote, though falling short of an outright majority.

The Social Democrats (SPD), despite receiving their lowest-ever result at 16.4%, have emerged as a crucial coalition partner. Together, the two parties would command 328 seats in the Bundestag – well above the 316 seats needed for a governing majority.

The draft coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU alliance and the SPD requires approval from party bodies and delegates. While the Social Democrats will hold a membership-wide vote, the Christian Democrats will make their decision through a small party conference. If approved, the German parliament could elect conservative leader Friedrich Merz as the new chancellor on May 7.