Parliamentary Group Leader of the Bavarian conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) party Alexander Dobrindt, the leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz and the co-leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Saskia Esken talk as they arrive to meet for talks on forming a coalition government at the SPD headquarters in the Willy-Brandt-Haus in Berlin on March 28, 2025. ODD ANDERSEN/Pool via REUTERS
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's would-be Chancellor Friedrich Merz identified on Friday migration, economic competitiveness and spending cuts as major areas needing agreement with intended coalition partners to form a government.
Exploratory talks between the conservative bloc - his Christian Democrats and their Bavarian CSU partners - and the Social Democrats (SPD) concluded earlier this week with a 162-page draft. Party leaders must now craft a government programme.
