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,

Germany's future chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said on Saturday that his conservative CDU party has reached a preliminary agreement in principle with the Social Democrats (SPD) to form a coalition government.

Germany’s conservatives and the Social Democrats agreed to deepen talks over forming a new government, a step forward as pressure builds on Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz to implement sweeping reforms.