Mr Merz’s conservatives and the Social Democrats are in negotiations to form a government after February's election. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz wants to alter Germany's strict fiscal rules to massively boost defence spending, the Greens are standing in his way. View on euronews

A new deal with the Greens could allow for as much as €1 trillion in new spending for defense and infrastructure over the next decade.