Germany's Merz and SPD clear first hurdle to forming coalition

Andreas Rinke - Reuters - 08/03
German election winner Friedrich Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) have concluded preliminary talks on forming a coalition government, Merz told reporters on Saturday in a joint announcement alongside other party leaders.
  • Preliminary coalition talks end successfully
  • Parties hope to form coalition
  • Merz promises tougher rules on immigration
BERLIN, March 8 (Reuters) - German election winner Friedrich Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) have concluded preliminary talks on forming a coalition government, Merz told reporters on Saturday in a joint announcement alongside other party leaders.
In Germany, where coalitions are the norm, governments are typically formed in two phases, with parties first holding exploratory talks and then entering into formal coalition talks.
The two parties were racing for a deal before next week when they hope to push a loosening of Germany's borrowing limits through parliament to revive growth in Europe's largest economy and boost military spending.
Chancellor-in-waiting Mer...
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