Germany, Merz's CDU/CSU strives to build "grand coalition"

Following Germany's recent federal election, conservative leader Friedrich Merz's party and its sister party are initiating coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party.

That's right. With Merz poised to become the next chancellor, his Christian Democratic Union party and its sister party the Christian Social Union are pushing for coalition talks with center-left SPD.

In the recent election held on Sunday, the CDU/CSU alliance secured the highest vote, emerging as the leading political force, while the far-right Alternative for Germany achieved a historic second-place. Given the fragmented parliament, Merz has expressed intentions to form a "grand coalition" with the SPD.

While Germany saw its highest voter turnout in decades, the CDU/CSU alliance secured over 28% of the vote, and the AfD achieved a strong second-place finish with 20.8%. The SPD, led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, recorded its worst postwar result, at 16.4%.

Merz aims to establish a functional government by April.

Key negotiation topics include, foreign and security policy, addressing immigration, and revitalizing Germany's struggling economy.