Berlin, 28 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Germany's conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats plan to start exploratory talks this week on forming a governing coalition following Sunday's federal elections.

The first discussion is planned for Friday, dpa has learned from party circles. Both sides are said to be sending nine negotiators each. The SPD will be represented by party leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken, as well as Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Labour Minister Hubertus Heil.

The team of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), has not yet been disclosed.

However, it is expected that, in addition to the likely future chancellor Friedrich Merz, CSU leader Markus Söder and the secretaries-general Carsten Linnemann (CDU) and Martin Huber (CSU) will also join the talks.

A coalition between the conservatives, who came out on top in the election, and the SPD, who came third, is the most likely scenario. However, difficult negotiations are expected - there are significant differences on topics such as migration, the fiscal policy and the Ukraine war.

Photo: EPA