BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 5, 2025: Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU alliance has signed a coalition agreement with the Social Democrats on Monday, May 5, paving the way for a joint government following weeks of negotiations. Conservative leader Friedrich Merz's CDU/CSU alliance finalized a coalition agreement with the SPD last month, and the parties' governing bodies and members officially approved the deal last week. After Monday's signing ceremony, parliament will convene Tuesday to elect Merz as Germany's new chancellor, replacing Social Democrat Olaf Scholz. The Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) won 28.5% in February's snap elections -- falling short of an outright majority. Though the Social Democrats hit their lowest-ever result at 16.4%, they emerged as a crucial coalition partner. Together, the parties will hold 328 seats in parliament, comfortably exceeding the 316-seat threshold needed for a governing majority.