CDU and SPD Reach Preliminary Agreement on Coalition Government

The parties resolved key disputes on finance, migration, and social policies, but face criticism and potential hurdles in finalizing the coalition.

Union and SPD concluded successful exploratory talks, paving the way for coalition negotiations set to begin later this week.
The financial plan includes suspending the debt brake for military spending and creating a €500 billion infrastructure fund over ten years.
Migration policies will tighten, with proposed measures such as border rejections for asylum seekers and limits on family reunifications, sparking opposition from Austria and other critics.
Social policy agreements include replacing the Bürgergeld with stricter basic income rules, securing pensions, and extending the rent cap for two more years.
The coalition faces internal dissent from party youth wings and external challenges, including potential resistance from the Greens in securing constitutional changes for the financial package.