Conservative leader Friedrich Merz says he aiming to close a coalition agreement with the SPD in a “short time.” Meanwhile, talks are ongoing on how to increase defense spending.

Christian Democrat (CDU) leader and probable next German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that coalition talks with the Social Democrats (SPD) “have begun” and that he expects them to “intensify in the coming days.”

Merz repeated that he intends to form a government by Easter — which falls on April 20 —, saying that there are a range of topics including security, immigration and the economy which cannot wait.

“The global situation is changing dramatically day by day, all of which requires a capable German government,” he said, expressing confidence that his party can agree on a “good coalition agreement” with the SPD in “a short time.”

On the conservative side, negotiations are set to be led by Merz himself with the support of Markus Söder, head of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the CDU’s Bavarian sister party.

The SPD delegation is expected to be led by party chairman Lars Klingbeil once he has been elected to lead the SPD’s parliamentary group on Wednesday.