German conservatives, centre-left, sign coalition agreement

Conservative and centre-left leaders today signed the agreement to form a coalition government – the last step before Angela Merkel can be elected Germany’s chancellor.

At the signing ceremony of the 143-page agreement, Merkel, who heads the conservative Christian Democratic Union said: “It is our job is to make sure that the paper doesn’t remain just paper, but that in the coming days, weeks and years we bring it to life.”

Matthias Platzeck, leader of the Social Democrats, and the Edmund Stoiber, leader of the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union, also signed the document.