BERLIN: Germany's conservative Christian Social Union (CSU), one of the three partners in the incoming national government, has approved the parties' coalition agreement, one day after it was presented in Berlin.
The steering committee of the Bavaria-only CSU, which is allied with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at the national level,unanimously approved the centre-right bloc's deal with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Thursday.
Party leader Markus Söder, the premier of Bavaria, announced the result on Thursday afternoon, describing the deal as good for Germany.
The prospective partners reached an agreement on Wednesday after weeks of arduous negotiations following February's parliamentary elections, with CDU leader Friedrich Merz set to replace the outgoing Olaf Scholz, from the SPD, as chancellor.
The 144-page programme for government includes cuts to social pending, bureaucracy and development funding, but also plans for a €15 ($16.50) per hour minimum wage and for a National Security Council to streamline decision-making on defence.
The deal must be approved by all three parties before the new government can take office.
The SPD is set to hold an online ballot of its 358,000 members beginning on Tuesday. The process is expected to last two weeks,ending on April 29.
SPD General Secretary Matthias Miersch called on members to "take responsibility" and approve the agreement.
"We have achieved a great deal: massive investment in the future and social cohesion, in secure jobs, affordable housing and a state capable of acting," he argued.
Despite calls from within the CDU for a similar procedure, Merz's party is to vote on the agreement at a small party conference on April 28.
If the parties approve the agreement, as expected, Merz's administration is likely to be formed in early May, with Söder suggesting Merz could be elected chancellor on May 6.
Also on Thursday, a top CDU lawmaker cast doubt on whether a $16.50 hourly minimum wage can be achieved by 2026, just one day after the target was outlined in the coalition agreement. - dpa
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