In Germany, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), along with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), have announced the conclusion of a coalition agreement, Tagesschau reports.

Germany's conservative chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz was to unveil Wednesday his party's coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats, paving the way to soon forge a new government. He wants the new alliance with the Social Democrats (SPD) of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz to be able to launch a new government by early May.

Christian Social Union (CSU) leader and Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder speaks during a press conference with Germany's chancellor-in-waiting and leader of the Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) Friedrich Merz and co-leaders of the Social Democratic party (SPD) Saskia Esken and Lars Klingbeil,