Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) said on Wednesday they had agreed to start talks on a possible coalition with Friedrich Merz's conservatives but stressed their support was not automatic and hit out at his negotiating style.

Germany's Social Democratic Party faces a lack of leadership following its defeat on February 23, having garnered only 16.5% of the vote, its worst score since 1945.

Conservative and center-left parties launch coalition talks on Friday. hoping to avoid prolonging Germany’s post-election uncertainty.

German election winner Friedrich Merz's conservatives and outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) held "open and constructive" talks towards forming a coalition, a joint statement said on Friday without giving details.

Social Democratic Party co-leader Klingbeil expects conservative chief Merz to change 'course and tone' before talks to form potential coalition government - Anadolu Ajansı

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz is almost certain to become chancellor, but first he needs to win over the Social Democrats, setting up tense negotiations to bridge their differences in areas like government borrowing and welfare spending.

For the SPD, party leaders Lars Klingbeil and Saskia Esken will sit at the table, as well as Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil. Also on the SPD negotiating team: Secretary General Matthias Miersch,

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrats, has ruled out a coalition with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which finished second in last week's elections. View on euronew