Germany's Conservatives and Social Democrats Reach Coalition Deal

The CDU/CSU and SPD agree on a roadmap for government, focusing on defense spending, infrastructure, and immigration reforms.

Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU/CSU, is set to become Germany's next chancellor after his conservative bloc reached a coalition agreement with the SPD.
The coalition's plans include a €500 billion investment in infrastructure and an exemption for defense spending from Germany's constitutional debt limit.
The agreement marks a shift in Germany's defense policy, aiming to increase annual military expenditures to €100 billion.
Controversial immigration measures were included, such as stricter border controls and the refoulement of undocumented migrants, with the SPD conceding to CDU/CSU demands.
The SPD secured a commitment to raise the minimum wage to €15 by 2026, balancing the coalition's focus on social and economic reforms.