SPD Votes to Approve Coalition Agreement with CDU/CSU

Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) has approved a coalition agreement with the conservative CDU/CSU, with reports indicating that 84% of participating SPD members voted in favor. This vote removes the final obstacle for conservative leader Friedrich Merz to become chancellor, with the official signing of the coalition agreement expected on May 5 and a parliamentary vote set for May 6. The coalition deal comes after both major parties suffered losses in the recent federal election, leaving cooperation as the only viable path to a majority government and excluding the far-right AfD from power. The coalition agreement includes plans to invest in infrastructure, raise the minimum wage, keep pensions stable, and extend rent caps, with the SPD securing several key cabinet posts, including the finance ministry. While the SPD leadership supports the deal as a bulwark against the far right, some party factions, particularly the youth wing, have criticized concessions on migration and welfare. The new government will face the challenge of reviving Germany's economy and navigating tensions over international trade, particularly amid concerns about US tariffs.