SHOTLIST: BERLIN, GERMANY (MAY 5, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING FOR COALITION DEAL CEREMONY 2. FRIEDRICH MERZ WALKING TOWARDS PODIUM 3. MERZ DELIVERING SPE (German)BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 5, 2025: German Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) officially signed a coalition deal with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) on Monday, paving the way for a new government after weeks of negotiations. Conservative leader and Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz said the new coalition government would take on historic responsibility for Germany’s future amid growing challenges in national security and economic stability. “Tomorrow, our citizens will have a government determined to move Germany forward,” Merz said during the official ceremony in Berlin. “A government that takes people's concerns seriously and aims to build the infrastructure our country needs. A government whose voice will resonate in Europe and across the world,” he said. After Monday's signing ceremony, the German parliament will convene Tuesday to elect Merz as the country's new chancellor, replacing Social Democrat Olaf Scholz. The conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the SPD finalized their coalition agreement last month, with party governing bodies and members officially approving the deal last week. The Christian Democrats secured 28.5% in February's snap elections -- falling short of an outright majority. Despite the Social Democrats recording their lowest-ever result at 16.4%, they emerged as a crucial coalition partner. Together, the parties will control 328 seats in parliament, well above the 316-seat threshold required for a governing majority.