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,

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.

Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz and his CDU won Germany's election, yet his personal popularity is low — and getting lower. Most Germans don't trust him, not least because of his approach to the far-right AfD.