Germany's conservative opposition leader and possible next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said further discussions on policy must wait until after a confidence vote is held on Dec. 16, following the collapse of incumbent Olaf Scholz's coalition.

The collapse of Germany’s ’traffic light’ coalition government headed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz has thrown the focus on opposition leader Friedrich Merz. The 68-year-old, who leads the Christian Democratic Union (CDU),

German conservative leader Friedrich Merz launched his election bid with a stinging attack on Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling the Social Democrat a “lightweight” and accusing him of sowing division in Europe’s biggest economy.

The leader of Germany's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) Friedrich Merz said he could be open to reforming the debt brake, which limits public deficit to 0.35% of gross domestic product, in certain circumstances.

Conservative chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz said he’s open to reform Germany’s strict borrowing limits as long as additional debt-financed spending is used for investment.

The leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) sees a "good starting point" for reforming the nation's spending cap, known as the debt brake, and said that such a move wouldn't have to wait until the formation of a new government.

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday he was open to reforming the country's constitutional brake on government spending. Merz, widely seen as the favourite to succeed Chancellor Olaf Scholz after next year's parliamentary elections,