A coalition deal in Germany has paved the way for conservative leader Friedrich Merz to become the country's 10th chancellor since World War II. As part of the deal, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party,

Germany's Social Democrats have backed a treaty for a coalition with the CDU/CSU conservatives, the party said on Wednesday, clearing the last hurdle for the formation of a new government in Europe's largest economy.

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz, the country's presumptive next chancellor, on Monday urged his centre-right party's delegates to approve a coalition deal struck with the Social Democrats (SPD).