Overview

• The CDU/CSU bloc, led by Friedrich Merz, and the SPD have signed a coalition agreement, officially forming Germany's new government.
• Friedrich Merz is scheduled to be elected chancellor by the Bundestag on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, succeeding Olaf Scholz.
• The coalition's four-year plan prioritizes addressing Germany's ongoing economic recession, which has persisted for two years.
• The far-right AfD, despite achieving record electoral support in February, has been entirely excluded from government participation.
• The agreement emphasizes bolstering European defense capabilities in response to shifting global geopolitical dynamics.