Election winner Friedrich Merz wants to sew up a coalition with defeated Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD by Easter.

Leaders of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) will not appear at traditional events to mark Ash Wednesday as they focus on negotiations to form a government in Berlin. The SPD is "prepared to negotiate and talk all week,

Leaders of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) have said they will not appear at traditional Ash Wednesday events as they focus on negotiations to form a government in Berlin. The SPD is "prepared to negotiate and talk all week,