Germany is back, says Merz, after sealing government deal

The chancellor-in-waiting's conservatives have reached a coalition agreement with Germany's Social Democrats, five months after the last government collapsed.

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Merz, 69, said their agreement sent "a strong and clear signal" to Germans and the EU that they would get "a strong government capable of action".

Germany was already in recession before it was buffeted by economic turbulence, caused by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs.

"The key message to Donald Trump is Germany is back on track," said the chancellor-in-waiting, promising to fulfil defence commitments and revive economic competitiveness.

Merz and his coalition partners have been under intense pressure to put an end to Germany's political limbo since his Christian Democrats won federal elections in February.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2xxd4v6dzo

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