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 will announce on Wednesday whether members have backed a treaty for a coalition with the CDU/CSU conservatives, potentially clearing the last hurdle for the formation of a new government in Europe's largest economy.

Members of the Social Democrats (SPD) have signed off on a coalition pact with the centre-right CDU and CSU, paving the way for a new government to enter office next week in Germany.