Germany's largest main parties have reached an agreement on the formation of a government, thus preventing the far right from coming to power
Potential German chancellor Friedrich Merz, from the conservative CDU/CSU, announced an agreement reached with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), who led the ruling coalition from 2021, the Guardian reports.
The 146-page document entitled "Responsibility for Germany" is "a strong and clear message to the citizens of our country. It is also a clear message to our partners in the European Union," Mertz said at a press conference with coalition partners.
"Germany is getting back on track," he added.
The complex package, which Merz wanted to complete by Easter, still needs approval from the SPD's 357.000 members in an online vote, as well as the leadership of the CDU and CSU, known as the Union Party.
If those challenges are overcome by the end of April, Merz could be sworn in as chancellor before the Bundestag in early May, fulfilling a decades-long dream as he has long been a rival of Angela Merkel.
The deal includes tax breaks for low- and middle-income households, gradual tax cuts for corporations, subsidies for electric vehicles to help the ailing auto industry and further reform of the "debt brake" seen as a drag on public investment.
On border policy, a key issue during the campaign, Merz said Germany would "effectively put an end to irregular immigration" and work with neighbors to turn people away at the border.
Source: The Guardian
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