A coalition deal in Germany has paved the way for conservative leader Friedrich Merz to become the country's 10th chancellor since World War II. As part of the deal, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party,

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she is confident of good relations with Friedrich Merz, the conservative German politician set to be elected chancellor next week. Meloni told Italy's Adnkronos news agency that she had been in contact with Merz over recent weeks after meeting him ahead of Germany's February elections.

Germany's Social Democrats have backed a treaty for a coalition with the CDU/CSU conservatives, the party said on Wednesday, clearing the last hurdle for the formation of a new government in Europe's largest economy.