Coalition deal reached to form a new government in Germany

GERMAN election winner Friedrich Merz sealed a deal today to form a new government.
Mr Merz said it would aim to spur economic growth, ramp up defence spending, take a tougher approach to migration and catch up on long-neglected modernisation.
The agreement, which follows weeks of negotiations, leaves the Christian Democrat Union (CDU) leader on track to become Germany’s new Chancellor in early May, replacing Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
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