German Conservatives and Center-Left Reach Agreement to Form Government

The coalition plans major investments in defense and infrastructure while addressing migration and wage reforms.

Friedrich Merz of the CDU is set to become chancellor, leading a coalition with the SPD's Lars Klingbeil as co-leader.
The agreement includes hundreds of billions of euros in investments aimed at rearming Germany and upgrading infrastructure.
The SPD secured a commitment to raise the minimum wage to €15, while the CDU pushed for stricter border controls and deportations of undocumented migrants.
Detailed negotiations to finalize the coalition government are expected to begin next week.
European neighbors are closely monitoring Germany's evolving role in security and defense as the continent seeks to reduce reliance on the United States.