German election: CDU leader Merz wants coalition with SPD
Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian democratic CDU/CSU party which won Sunday's parliamentary elections in Germany, wants to form a coalition with the social democratic SPD.
"I am determined to quickly hold good and constructive talks with the social democrats to form a government coalition," he said at a press conference at CDU headquarters in Berlin on Monday. Merz, who is set to become the next chancellor, wants to form a government by Easter, or 20 April.
While the SPD of outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz achieved its worst post-war election result, with about 16.5 per cent of the vote, it is still the third largest German party. Together, CDU/CSU and SPD account for 328 seats in the Bundestag. A majority requires 316 seats.
Key topics during coalition negotiations will be migration, the economy and foreign and security policy, according to Merz. Talks are expected to be difficult, as the migration policy of the conservative CDU/CSU differs significantly from that of the centre-left SPD.
Shift in US policy
Regarding transatlantic relations, Merz said he was preparing for "the worst scenario", noting US president Donald Trump's retreat from Europe.
"All the signals we are getting from the US indicate that interest in Europe is waning significantly," he said. This is a notable shift in policy, as Merz used to be a staunch Atlanticist.
"All the signals we are getting from the US indicate that interest in Europe is waning significantly"
Merz also addressed the result of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which doubled its vote share from the 2021 parliamentary elections. The AfD's progress is "a final warning" to moderate parties to "reach common solutions", Merz warned.
Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz shake hands ahead of a TV debate © PHOTO MICHAEL KAPPELER / POOL / AFP
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