Germany ’s center-left Social Democrats have approved a deal to join a new coalition government, paving the way for parliament to elect conservative leader Friedrich Merz as the country’s new chancellor.

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).

BERLIN - Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) backed a coalition deal with the CDU/CSU conservatives on Wednesday in the final step to forming a government in Europe's largest economy, and nominated their leader Lars Klingbeil as finance minister.