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Germany’s incoming chancellor has formed a grand coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, straddling the political centre and keeping the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) out of power – even though polls show it now has the biggest following of any party.
Friedrich Merz said voters have been sent a clear signal he’ll lead a “strong government”, which he says will focus on migration, defence and the economy.
He said Germany was “back on track” despite the recent Trump tariff turbulence.
The coalition deal includes a commitment to an historic increase in defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2027, expansion of the German army and “comprehensive support” for Ukraine.
It’s taken six weeks of talks to get to this point. Merz’s coalition partners still haven’t signed, but he hopes to have a working government by early next month.
The AfD is meanwhile leading the Ipsos voter survey for the first time, and the party’s co-leader, Alice Weidel, is calling for change.
Merz’s Christian Democrats are second on 24 per cent.
