Under the terms of an imminent coalition agreement, Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is set to control the Foreign Office for the first time in almost 60 years, dpa learnt on Wednesday.
Hours before a deal with the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was due to be announced, party sources told dpa that Friedrich Merz – the presumptive next chancellor – will have a CDU colleague as foreign minister.
The SPD is set to take the finance and defence portfolios, while the conservative CDU/CSU bloc will hold the Interior Ministry.
The parties are set to formally announce the agreement at a press conference in Berlin at 3 pm (1300 GMT).
Markus Soeder, Minister President of Bavaria, arrives in front of the CDU party headquarters, the Konrad Adenauer House, before the start of the continuation of the coalition negotiations between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Alexander Dobrindt, head of the Christian Social Union (CSU) regional group, arrives at the CDU party headquarters, the Konrad Adenauer House, in the morning at the start of the continuation of the coalition negotiations between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Michael Kappeler/dpa
Markus Soeder, Minister President of Bavaria, arrives in front of the CDU party headquarters, the Konrad Adenauer House, before the start of the continuation of the coalition negotiations between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Michael Kappeler/dpa
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